Fusion proteins and methods for stimulating plant growth, protecting plants, and immobilizing bacillus spores on plants

ABSTRACT

The present invention is generally directed to fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member. The invention also relates to recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing such fusion proteins and formulations containing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing the fusion proteins. Methods for stimulating plant growth, for protecting plants from pathogens, and for enhancing stress resistance in a plant by applying the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members or the formulations to plants or a plant growth medium are also described. The invention also relates to methods for immobilizing spores of a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein on plants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/508,524, filed Jul. 11, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/846,487, filed Dec. 19, 2017, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,349,660, which is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/775,892, filed Sep. 14, 2015, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,850,289, which is a U.S. National Stage Application of PCT Application No. PCT/US2014/030824, filed Mar. 17, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/799,262, filed Mar. 15, 2013. Each of the above-cited applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

INCORPORATION OF SEQUENCE LISTING

A sequence listing contained in the file named “GENE_SEQUENCE_LISTING_FILED_7_11_19.TXT” which is 171,175 bytes (measured in MS-Windows®) and created on Sep. 14, 2020, and comprises 124 sequences, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member. The invention also relates to recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing such fusion proteins and formulations containing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing the fusion proteins. The invention further relates to methods for stimulating plant growth, for protecting plants from pathogens, and for enhancing stress resistance in plants by applying the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members or the formulations to plants or a plant growth medium. The invention also relates to methods for immobilizing spores of a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein on plants or on plant matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within the zone surrounding a plant's roots is a region called the rhizosphere. In the rhizosphere, bacteria, fungi, and other organisms compete for nutrients and for binding to the root structures of the plant. Both detrimental and beneficial bacteria and fungi can occupy the rhizosphere. The bacteria, fungi, and the root system of the plant can all be influenced by the actions of peptides, enzymes, and other proteins in the rhizosphere. Augmentation of soil or treatment of plants with certain of these peptides, enzymes, or other proteins would have beneficial effects on the overall populations of beneficial soil bacteria and fungi, create a healthier overall soil environment for plant growth, improve plant growth, and provide for the protection of plants against certain bacterial and fungal pathogens. However, previous attempts to introduce peptides, enzymes, and other proteins into soil to induce such beneficial effects on plants have been hampered by the low survival of enzymes, proteins, and peptides in soil. Additionally, the prevalence of proteases naturally present in the soil leads to degradation of the proteins in the soil. The environment around the roots of a plant (the rhizosphere) is a unique mixture of bacteria, fungi, nutrients, and roots that has different qualities than that of native soil. The symbiotic relationship between these organisms is unique, and could be altered for the better with inclusion of exogenous proteins. The high concentration of fungi and bacteria in the rhizosphere causes even greater degradation of proteins due to abnormally high levels of proteases and other elements detrimental to proteins in the soil. In addition, enzymes and other proteins introduced into soil can dissipate away from plant roots quickly.

Thus, there exists a need in the art for a method for effectively delivering peptides, enzymes, and other proteins to plants (e.g., to plant root systems) and for extending the period of time during which such molecules remain active. Furthermore, there exists a need in the art for a method of selectively targeting such peptides, enzymes, and proteins to the rhizosphere and to plant leaves and plant roots in particular.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to fusion proteins comprising at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, at least one protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant, or at least one plant binding protein or peptide. The plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a peptide hormone, a non-hormone peptide, or an enzyme involved in the production or activation of a plant growth stimulating compound. The fusion protein also comprises a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment. The targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment can be: (a) a targeting sequence comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 54%; (b) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (c) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (d) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 1; (e) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2; (f) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID NO: 3; (g) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID NO: 3; (h) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 3; (i) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 4; (j) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-38 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (k) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 23-38 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (l) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 5; (m) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 6; (n) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-28 of SEQ ID NO: 7; (o) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 13-28 of SEQ ID NO: 7; (p) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 7; (q) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 8; (r) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 9; (s) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 9; (t) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 9; (u) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 10; (v) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO:11; (w) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 11; (x) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 11; (y) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 12; (z) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 13; (aa) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 13; (ab) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:13; (ac) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:14; (ad) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-43 of SEQ ID NO: 15; (ae) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 28-43 of SEQ ID NO: 15; (af) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:15; (ag) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:16; (ah) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID NO: 17; (ai) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID NO: 17; (aj) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:17; (ak) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:18; (al) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 19; (am) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 19; (an) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:19; (ao) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:20; (ap) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 21; (aq) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 21; (ar) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:21; (as) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:22; (at) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 23; (au) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 23; (av) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:23; (aw) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:24; (ax) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 25; (ay) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 25; (az) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:25; (ba) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:26; (bb) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-30 of SEQ ID NO: 27; (bc) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 15-30 of SEQ ID NO: 27; (bd) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:27; (be) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:28; (bf) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 29; (bg) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 29; (bh) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:29; (bi) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:30; (bj) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 31; (bk) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 31; (bl) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:31; (bm) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:32; (bn) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-15 of SEQ ID NO: 33; (bo) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:33; (bp) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:34; (bq) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-16 of SEQ ID NO: 35; (br) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:35; (bs) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:36; (bt) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-29 of SEQ ID NO:43; (bu) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 14-29 of SEQ ID NO: 43; (by) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 43; (bw) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 44; (bx) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 45; (by) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 45; (bz) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 45; (ca) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 46; (cb) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-43 of SEQ ID NO: 47; (cc) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 28-43 of SEQ ID NO: 47; (cd) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 47; (ce) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 48; (cf) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-32 of SEQ ID NO: 49; (cg) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 17-32 of SEQ ID NO: 49; (ch) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 49; (ci) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 50; (cj) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 51; (ck) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 51; (cl) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 51; (cm) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 52; (cn) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 53; (co) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 53; (cp) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 53; (cq) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 54; (cr) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-30 of SEQ ID NO: 55; (cs) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 15-30 of SEQ ID NO: 55; (ct) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 55; (cu) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 56; (cv) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-130 of SEQ ID NO: 57; (cw) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 115-130 of SEQ ID NO: 57; (cx) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 57; (cy) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 58; (cz) an exosporium protein fragment comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 59; (da) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 60; (db) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61; (dc) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 62; (dd) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 63; (de) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 64; (df) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 65; (dg) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 66; (dh) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 67; (di) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 68; (dj) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 69; (dk) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 70; (dl) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 71; (dm) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 72; (dn) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 73; (do) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 74; (dp) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 75; (dq) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 76; (dr) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 77; (ds) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 78; (dt) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 79; (du) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 80; (dv) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 81; (dw) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 82; (dx) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 83; (dy) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 84; (dz) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 22-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (ea) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 22-33 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (eb) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 20-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (ec) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 14-23 of SEQ ID NO: 3; (ed) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 14-25 of SEQ ID NO: 3; or (ef) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 12-23 of SEQ ID NO: 3.

The present invention is also directed to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment and at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen. The targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment can be: (a) a targeting sequence consisting of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 54%; (b) a targeting sequence consisting of amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (c) a targeting sequence consisting of amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (d) a targeting sequence consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1; (e) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 60; (f) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID NO: 3; (g) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID NO: 3; (h) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 3; (i) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 4; (j) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-38 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (k) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 23-38 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (l) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 5; (m) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 6; (n) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-28 of SEQ ID NO: 7; (o) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 13-28 of SEQ ID NO: 7; (p) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 7; (q) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 8; (r) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 9; (s) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 9; (t) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 9; (u) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 10; (v) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO:11; (w) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 11; (x) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 11; (y) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 12; (z) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 13; (aa) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 13; (ab) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:13; (ac) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:14; (ad) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-43 of SEQ ID NO: 15; (ae) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 28-43 of SEQ ID NO: 15; (af) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:15; (ag) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:16; (ah) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID NO: 17; (ai) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID NO: 17; (aj) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:17; (ak) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:18; (al) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 19; (am) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 19; (an) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:19; (ao) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:20; (ap) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 21; (aq) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 21; (ar) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:21; (as) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:22; (at) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 23; (au) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 23; (av) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:23; (aw) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:24; (ax) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 25; (ay) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 25; (az) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:25; (ba) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:26; (bb) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-30 of SEQ ID NO: 27; (bc) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 15-30 of SEQ ID NO: 27; (bd) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:27; (be) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:28; (bf) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 29; (bg) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 29; (bh) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:29; (bi) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:30; (bj) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 31; (bk) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 31; (bl) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:31; (bm) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:32; (bn) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-15 of SEQ ID NO: 33; (bo) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:33; (bp) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:34; (bq) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-16 of SEQ ID NO: 35; (br) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:35; (bs) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO:36; (bt) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-29 of SEQ ID NO:43; (bu) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 14-29 of SEQ ID NO: 43; (by) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 43; (bw) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 44; (bx) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 45; (by) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 45; (bz) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 45; (ca) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 46; (cb) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-43 of SEQ ID NO: 47; (cc) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 28-43 of SEQ ID NO: 47; (cd) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 47; (ce) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 48; (cf) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-32 of SEQ ID NO: 49; (cg) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 17-32 of SEQ ID NO: 49; (ch) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 49; (ci) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 50; (cj) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 51; (ck) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 51; (cl) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 51; (cm) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 52; (cn) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 53; (co) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 53; (cp) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 53; (cq) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 54; (cr) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-30 of SEQ ID NO: 55; (cs) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 15-30 of SEQ ID NO: 55; (ct) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 55; (cu) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 56; (cv) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-130 of SEQ ID NO: 57; (cw) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 115-130 of SEQ ID NO: 57; (cx) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 57; (cy) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 58; (cz) an exosporium protein fragment consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 59; (da) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 61; (db) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 62; (dc) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 63; (dd) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 64; (de) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 65; (df) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 66; (dg) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 67; (dh) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 68; (di) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 69; (dj) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 70; (dk) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 71; (dl) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 72; (dm) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 73; (dn) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 74; (do) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 75; (dp) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 76; (dq) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 77; (dr) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 78; (ds) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 79; (dt) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 80; (du) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 81; (dv) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 82; (dw) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 83; (dx) an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 84; (dy) a targeting sequence consisting of amino acids 22-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (dz) a targeting sequence consisting of amino acids 22-33 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (ea) a targeting sequence consisting of amino acids 20-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (eb) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 14-23 of SEQ ID NO: 3; (ec) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 14-25 of SEQ ID NO: 3; or (ed) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 12-23 of SEQ ID NO: 3.

The present invention is further directed to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment and at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen. The protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen can comprise a harpin, an α-elastin, a β-elastin, a systemin, a phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, an elicitin, a defensin, a cryptogein, a flagellin protein, a flagellin peptide, a bacteriocin, a lysozyme, a lysozyme peptide, a siderophore, a non-ribosomal active peptide, a conalbumin, an albumin, a lactoferrin, a lactoferrin peptide, or TasA. Alternatively, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen has insecticidal activity, helminthicidal activity, suppresses insect or worm predation, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the protein that protects a plant from a pathogen comprises an enzyme. The targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment can be any of the targeting sequences, exosporium proteins, or exosporium protein fragments listed herein above.

The present invention is also directed to fusion proteins comprising at least one protein or peptide of interest and an exosporium protein. The exosporium protein can be an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 71, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, and 84.

The invention further relates to a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member that expresses any of the fusion proteins.

The invention is also directed to formulations comprising any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members and an agriculturally acceptable carrier.

The present invention also relates to a method for stimulating plant growth. The method comprises introducing into a plant growth medium any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, or any of the formulations comprising a recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide. Alternatively, the method comprises applying to a plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant or a plant seed any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, or any of the formulations comprising a recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide. The plant growth stimulating protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus family member.

The present invention is also directed to a method for stimulating plant growth. The method comprises introducing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein into a plant growth medium or applying a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein to a plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant or a plant seed. The fusion protein comprises at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide and a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment. The targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment can be any of those listed herein above. The plant growth stimulating protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus family member.

The invention additionally relates to a method for protecting a plant from a pathogen or enhancing stress resistance in a plant. The method comprises introducing into a plant growth medium any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen or at least one protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant, or any of the formulations comprising any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen or at least one protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant. Alternatively, the method comprises applying to a plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen or at least one protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant, or any of the formulations comprising any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen or at least one protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant. The protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen or the protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.

The present invention is also directed to a method for immobilizing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member spore on a plant. The method comprises introducing into a plant growth medium any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing at least one plant binding protein or peptide, or any of the formulations comprising any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing at least one plant binding protein or peptide. Alternatively, the method comprises applying to a plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant or a plant seed any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing at least one plant binding protein or peptide, or any of the formulations comprising any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing at least one plant binding protein or peptide. The plant binding protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an alignment of the amino acid sequence of the amino-terminal portion of Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain BclA and with the corresponding region from various exosporium proteins from Bacillus cereus family members.

FIG. 2 shows exemplary fluorescent microscopy results for the expression of fusion proteins containing various exosporium proteins linked to an mCherry reporter on the exosporium.

DEFINITIONS

When the articles “a,” “an,” “one,” “the,” and “said” are used herein, the mean “at least one” or “one or more” unless otherwise indicated.

The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

The term “bioactive peptide” refers to any peptide that exerts a biological activity. “Bioactive peptides” can be generated, for example, via the cleavage of a protein, peptide, proprotein, or preproprotein by a protease or peptidase.

An “enzyme involved in the production or activation of a plant growth stimulating compound” includes any enzyme that catalyzes any step in a biological synthesis pathway for a compound that stimulates plant growth or alters plant structure, or any enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of an inactive or less active derivative of a compound that stimulates plant growth or alters plant structure to an active or more active form of the compound. Such compounds include, for example, but are not limited to, small molecule plant hormones such as auxins and cytokinins, bioactive peptides, and small plant growth stimulating molecules synthesized by bacteria or fungi in the rhizosphere (e.g., 2,3-butanediol).

The term “fusion protein” as used herein refers to a protein having a polypeptide sequence that comprises sequences derived from two or more separate proteins. A fusion protein can be generated by joining together a nucleic acid molecule that encodes all or part of a first polypeptide with a nucleic acid molecule that encodes all or part of a second polypeptide to create a nucleic acid sequence which, when expressed, yields a single polypeptide having functional properties derived from each of the original proteins.

The term “immobilizing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member spore on a plant” refers to the binding of a Bacillus cereus family member spore to plant, e.g., to a root of a plant or to an aerial portion of a plant such as a leaf, stem, flower, or fruit, such that the spore is maintained at the plant's root structure or aerial portion instead of dissipating into the plant growth medium or into the environment surrounding the aerial portions of the plant.

A “plant growth medium” includes any material that is capable of supporting the growth of a plant.

A “plant immune system enhancer protein or peptide” as used herein includes any protein or peptide that has a beneficial effect on the immune system of a plant.

The term “plant growth stimulating protein or peptide” as used herein includes any protein or peptide that increases plant growth in a plant exposed to the protein or peptide.

A “protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen” as used herein includes any protein or peptide that makes a plant exposed to the protein or peptide less susceptible to infection with a pathogen.

A “protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant” as used herein includes any protein or peptide that makes a plant exposed to the protein or peptide more resistant to stress.

The term “plant binding protein or peptide” refers to any peptide or protein capable of specifically or non-specifically binding to any part of a plant (e.g., roots or aerial portions of a plant such as leaves foliage, stems, flowers, or fruits) or to plant matter.

The term “targeting sequence” as used herein refers to a polypeptide sequence that, when present as part of a longer polypeptide or a protein, results in the localization of the longer polypeptide or the protein to a specific subcellular location. The targeting sequences described herein result in localization of proteins to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member and: (a) at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide; (b) at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen; (c) at least one protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance of a plant; or (d) at least one plant binding protein or peptide. When expressed in Bacillus cereus family member bacteria, these fusion proteins are targeted to the exosporium layer of the spore and are physically oriented such that the protein or peptide is displayed on the outside of the spore.

This Bacillus exosporium display (BEMD) system can be used to deliver peptides, enzymes, and other proteins to plants (e.g., to plant foliage, fruits, flowers, stems, or roots) or to a plant growth medium such as soil. Peptides, enzymes, and proteins delivered to the soil or another plant growth medium in this manner persist and exhibit activity in the soil for extended periods of time. Introduction of recombinant Bacillus cereus family member bacteria expressing the fusion proteins described herein into soil or the rhizosphere of a plant leads to a beneficial enhancement of plant growth in many different soil conditions. The use of the BEMD to create these enzymes allows them to continue to exert their beneficial results to the plant and the rhizosphere over the first months of a plants life.

Targeting Sequences, Exosporium Proteins, and Exosporium Protein Fragments

For ease of reference, the SEQ ID NOs. for the peptide and protein sequences referred to herein are listed in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Peptide and Protein Sequences Protein, protein fragment, or targeting sequence (SEQ ID. NO) Sequence AA 1-41 of BclA MSNNNYSNGLNPDESLSASAFDPNLVGPTLPPIPPFTLPTG (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 1)* Full length Bc1A MSNNNYSNGLNPDESLSASAFDPNLVGPTLPPIPPFTLPTGPTGPFTTG (SEQ ID NO: 2)* PTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGDTGTTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGP TGPTGPTGFTPTGPTGPTGPTGDTGTTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGDTGTTG PTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTFTGPTGPTGPTGATGLTGPTGPTGPSGLG LPAGLYAFNSGGISLDLGINDPVPFNTVGSQFFTGTAISQLDADTFVISE TGFYKITVIANTATASVLGGLTIQVNGVPVPGTGSSLISLGAPFTIVIQA ITQITTTPSLVEVIVTGLGLSLALGTSASIIIEKVA AA 1-33 of MSEKYIILHGTALEPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTFPNG BetA/BA53290 (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 3) Full length MSEKYIILHGTALEPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTFPNGPTGITGPTGATGFTGIGIT BetA/BAS3290 GPTGVTGPTGIGITGPTGATGLGILPVFGTITTDVGIGFSVIVNTNINFTL (SEQ ID NO: 4 PGPVSGTTLNPVDNSIIINTTGVYSVSFSIVFVIQAISSSILNLTINDSIQF AIESRIGGGPGVRATSARTDLLSLNQGDVLRVRIREATGDIIYSNASLV VSKVD Met + AA 2-43 of MVKVVEGNGGKSKIKSPLNSNFKILSDLVGPTFPPVPTGMTGIT BAS4623 (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 5) Full length BAS4623 VVKVVEGNGGKSKIKSPLNSNFKILSDLVGPTFPPVPTGMTGITGSTG (SEQ ID NO: 6) ATGNTGPTGETGATGSAGITGSTGPTGNTGGTGSTGPTGNTGATGSTG VTGSTGVTGSTGVTGSTGVTGSTGPTGETGGTGSTGVTGSTGATGST GVTGNTGPTGSTGATGNTGSIGETGGTGSMGPTGETGVTGSTGGTGS TGVTGNTGPTGSTGVTGSTGVTGSTGPTGSTGVTGSTGPTGSTGVTGS TGVTGNMGPTGSTGVTGNTGSTGTTGATGETGPMGSTGATGTTGPT GETGETGETGGTGSTGPTGNTGATGSTGVTGSTGVTGSTGVTGETGP TGSTGATGNTGPTGETGGTGSTGATGSTGVTGNTGPTGSTGVTGNTG ATGETGPTGNTGATGNTGPTGETGVTGSTGPTGETGVTGSTGPTGNT GATGETGATGSTGVTGNTGSTGETGPTGSTGPTGSTGATGVTGNTGP TGSTGATGATGSTGPTGSTGTTGNTGVTGDTGPTGATGVSTTATYAF ANNTSGSVISVLLGGTNIPLPNNQNIGPGITVSGGNTVFTVANAGNYYI AYTINLTAGLLVSSRITVNGSPLAGTINSPTVATGSFSATIIASLPAGAA VSLQLFGVVALATLSTATPGATLTIIRLS AA 1-34 of Bc1B MKQNDKLWLDKGIIGPENIGPTFPVLPPIHIPTG (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 7) Full length Bc1B MKQNDKLWLDKGIIGPENIGPTFPVLPPIHIPTGITGATGATGITGATGP (SEQ ID NO: 8) TGTTGATGATGITGVTGATGITGVTGATGITGVTGATGITGVTGPTGIT GATGPTGITGATGPAGITGVTGPTGITGATGPTGTTGVTGPTGDTGLA GATGPTGATGLAGATGPTGDTGATGPTGATGLAGATGPTGATGLTG ATGATGATGGGAIIPFASGTTPALLVNAVLANTGTLLGFGFSQPGIAP GVGGTLTILPGVVGDYAFVAPRDGIITSLAGFFSATAALAPLTPVQIQM QIFIAPAASNTFTPVAPPLLLTPALPAIAIGTTATGIQAYNVPVVAGDKI LVYVSLTGASPIAAVAGFVSAGLNIV AA 1-30 of BAS1882 MDEFLSSAALNPGSVGPTLPPMQPFQFRTG (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 9) Full length BAS1882 MDEFLSSAALNPGSVGPTLPPMQPFQFRTGPTGSTGAKGAIGNTEPYW (SEQ ID NO: 10) HTGPPGIVLLTYDFKSLIISFAFRILPIS AA 1-39 of gene 2280 MFDKNEIQKINGILQANALNPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTG (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 11) Full length KBAB4 MFDKNEIQKINGILQANALNPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTGPTGVTGPTGVT gene 2280 GPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGV (SEQ ID NO: 12) TGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGETGPTGGTEGCLCDCCVL PMQSVLQQLIGETVILGTIADTPNTPPLFFLFTITSVNDFLVTVTDGTTT FVVNISDVTGVGFLPPGPPITLLPPTDVGCECECRERPIRQLLDAFIGST VSLLASNGSIAADFSVEQTGLGIVLGTLPINPTTTVRFAISTCKITAVNIT PITM AA 1-39 of gene 3572 MFDKNEMKKTNEVLQANALDPNIIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTG (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 13) Full Length KBAB4 MFDKNEMKKTNEVLQANALDPNIIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTGPTGPTGPTGP gene 3572 TGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGLTGPTGPTGLTGPTGLTGPT (SEQ ID NO: 14) GPTGLTGQTGSTGPTGATEGCLCDCCVFPMQEVLRQLVGQTVILATIA DAPNVAPRFFLFNITSVNDFLVTVTDPVSNTTFVVNISDVIGVGFSLTV PPLTLLPPADLGCECDCRERPIRELLDTLIGSTVNLLVSNGSIATGFNVE QTALGIVIGTLPIPINPPPPTLFRFAISTCKITAVDITPTPTAT AA 1-49 of MSRKDKFNRSRMSRKDRFNSPKIKSEISISPDLVGPTFPPIPSFTLPTG Exosporium Leader Peptide (B. cereus VD200) (SEQ ID NO: 15) Full Length MSRKDKFNRSRMSRKDRFNSPKIKSEISISPDLVGPTFPPIPSFTLPTGIT Exosporium Leader GPTFNINFRAEKNVAQSFTPPADIQVSYGNIIFNNGGGYSSVTNTFTAPI Peptide NGIYLFSASIGFNPTLGTTSTLRITIRKNLVSVASQTGTITTGGTPQLEIT (SEQ ID NO: 16) TIIDLLASQTIDIQFSAAESGTLTVGSSNFFSGALLP AA 1-33 of MNEEYSILHGPALEPNLIGPTLPSIPPFTFPTG Exosporium Leader Peptide (B. cereus VD166) (SEQ ID NO: 17) Full Length MNEEYSILHGPALEPNLIGPTLPSIPPFTFPTGPTGITGPTGATGFTGIGIT Exosporium Leader GPTGVTGPTGIGITGPTGATGPTGIGITGPTG Peptide (SEQ ID NO: 18) AA 1-39 of MKNRDNNRKQNSLSSNFRIPPELIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIG hypothetical protein IKG_04663 (B. cereus VD200) (SEQ ID NO: 19) Full Length MKNRDNNRKQNSLSSNFRIPPELIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIGITGPTGPQGPT hypothetical protein GPQGPRGLQGPMGEMGPTGPQGVQGIQGSVGPIGATGPEGQQGPQGL IKG_04663, partial RGPQGETGATGPGGVQGLQGPIGPTGATGAQGIQGIQGLQGPIGATGP (SEQ ID NO: 20) EGSQGIQGVQGLPGATGPQGIQGAQGIQGTPGPSGNTGATGATGATG QGITGPTGITGPTGITGPSGGPPGPTGPTGATGPGGGPSGSTGATGATG NTGATGSTGVTGATGSTGPTGSTGAQGLQGIQGIQGPIGPTGPEGSQGI QGIPGPTGVTGEQGIQGVQGIQGATGATGDQGPQGIQGVIGPQGVTG ATGDQGPQGIQGVPGPSGETGPQGVQGIQGPMGDIGPTGPEGPEGLQ GPQGIQGVPGPVGATGPEGPQGIQGIQGPVGATGPQGPQGIQGIQGVQ GITGATGVQGATGIQGIQGEIGATGPEGPQGVQGAQGAIGPTGPMGPQ GVQGVQGIQGATGAQGVQGPQGIQGIQGPTGATGDMGATGATGEGT TGPTGVTGPTGVTGPSGGPAGPTGPTGPSGPAGVTGPSGGPPGPTGAT GATGVTGDTGATGSTGVTGATGETGATGVTGLQGPQGIQGVQGEIGP TGPQGVQGPQGIQGVTGATGDQGPQGIQGPQGDIGPTGPQGIQGPQGS QGIQGATGGTGAQGPQGIQGPQGDIGLTGSQGPTGIQGIQGEIGPTGPE GPEGLQGPQGIQGIQGPVGATGPEGPQGIQGIQGVQGATGPQGPQGIQ GIQGVQGITGATGAQGATGIQGIQGEIGATGPEGPQGVQGIQGAIGPT GPMGAQGVQGIQGIQGATGAQGVQGPQGIQGVQGPTGATGETGATG ATGEGTTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPSGGPAGPTGPTGPSGPAGVTGPSGGPP GPTGATGATGVTGDTGATGSTGVTGATGATGATGVTGLQGPQGIQG VQGEIGPTGPQGIQGPQGIQGVTGATGAQGPQGIQGPQGDIGPTGSQGI QGPQGPQGIQGATGATGAQGPQGIQGPQGEIGPTGPQGPQGIQGPQGI QGPTG AA 1-39 of YVTN β- MSDKHQMKKISEVLQAHALDPNLIGPPLPPITPFTFPTG propeller protein (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 21) Full length YVTN β- MSDKHQMKKISEVLQAHALDPNLIGPPLPPITPFTFPTGSTGPTGSTGS propeller protein TGPTGSTGNTGPTGPTGPPVGTNLDTIYVTNDISNNVSAIDGNTNTVLT KBAB4 TIPVGTNPVGVGVNSSTNLIYVVNNGSDNISVINGSTNTVVATIPVGTQ (SEQ ID NO: 22) PFGVGVNPSTNLIYVANRTSNNVSVIKGGTNTVLTTIPVGTNPVGVGV NSSTNLIYVTNEIPNSVSVIKGGTNTVVATIPVGLFPFGVGVNSLTNLIY VVNNSPHNVSVIDGNTNTVLTTISVGTSPVGVGVNLSTNLIYVANEVP NNISVINGNTNTVLTTIPVGTTPFEVGVNSSTNLIYVSNLNSNNVSVIN GSANTVIATVPVGSVPRGIGVKP AA 1-30 of MDEFLSFAALNPGSIGPTLPPVPPFQFPTG hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363 (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 23) Full length MDEFLSFAALNPGSIGPTLPPVPPFQFPTGPTGSTGSTGPTGSTGSTGPT hypothetical protein GFNLPAGPASITLTSNETTACVSTQGNNTLFFSGQVLVNGSPTPGVVV bcerkbab4_2363 SFSFSNPSLAFMVPLAVITNASGNFTAVFLAANGPGTVTVTASLLDSP KBAB4 GTMASVTITIVNCP (SEQ ID NO: 24) AA 1-30 of MDEFLSSTALNPCSIGPTLPPMQPFQFPTG hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2131 (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 25) Full length MDEFLSSTALNPCSIGPTLPPMQPFQFPTGPTGSTGTTGPTGSIGPTGNT hypothetical protein GLTGNTGPTGITGPTGDTG bcerkbab4_2131 (SEQ ID NO: 26) AA 1-36 of triple helix MKERDRQNSLNSNFRISPNLIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIG repeat containing collagen (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 27) Full length triple helix MKERDRQNSLNSNFRISPNLIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIGITGPTGPQGPTGPQ repeat-containing GPRGFQGPMGEMGPTGPQGVQGIQGPAGQMGATGPEGQQGPQGLRG collagen KBAB4 PQGETGATGPQGVQGLQGPIGPTGATGAQGIQGIQGLQGPIGATGPEG (SEQ ID NO: 28) PQGIQGVQGVPGATGSQGIQGAQGIQGPQGPSGNTGATGVTGQGISGP TGITGPTGITGPSGGPPGPTGATGATGPGGGPSGSTGATGATGNTGVT GSAGVTGNTGSTGSTGETGAQGLQGIQGVQGPIGPTGPEGPQGIQGIP GPTGVTGEQGIQGVQGIQGITGATGDQGPQGIQGAIGPQGITGATGDQ GPQGIQGVPGPTGDTGSQGVQGIQGPMGDIGPTGPEGPEGLQGPQGIQ GVPGPAGATGPEGPQGIQGIQGPIGVTGPEGPQGIQGIQGIQGITGATG AQGATGVQGVQGNIGATGPEGPQGVQGTQGDIGPTGPMGPQGVQGI QGIQGPTGAQGVQGPQGIQGIQGPTGVTGDTGTTGATGEGTTGATGV TGPSGVTGPSGGPAGPTGPTGPSGPTGLTGPSGGPPGPTGATGVTGGV GDTGATGSTGVTGATGVTGATGATGLQGPQGIQGVQGDIGPTGPQG VQGPQGIQGITGATGDQGPQGIQGPQGIQGPTGPQGIQGGQGPQGIQG ATGATGAQGPQGIQGIQGVQGPTGPQGPTGIQGVQGEIGPTGPQGVQ GLQGPQGPTGDTGPTGPQGPQGIQGPTGATGATGSQGIQGPTGATGA TGSQGIQGPTGATGATGATGATGATGATGATGVTGVSTTATYSFANN TSGSAISVLLGGTNIPLPNNQNIGPGITVSGGNTVFTVTNAGNYYIAYTI NITAALLVSSRITVNGSPLAGTINSPAVATGSFNATIISNLAAGSAISLQ LFGLLAVATLSTTTPGATLTIIRLS AA 1-39 of VFDKNEIQKINGILQANALNPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTG hypothetical protein bmyco0001_21660 (B. mycoides 2048) (SEQ ID NO: 29) Full length VFDKNEIQKINGILQANALNPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTGPTGGTGPTGVT hypothetical protein GPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGV bmyco0001_21660 TGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGGTEGCLCDCCVLPMQSVLQQLIGE (SEQ ID NO: 30) TVILGTIADTPNTPPLFFLFTITSVNDFLVTVTDGTTTFVVNISDVTGVG FLPPGPPITLLPPTDVGCECECRERPIRQLLDAFIGSTVSLLASNGSIAAD FSVEQTGLGIVLGTLPINPTTTVRFAISTCKITAVNITPITM AA 1-30 of MDEFLYFAALNPGSIGPTLPPVQPFQFPTG hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540 (B. mycoides 2048) (SEQ ID NO: 31) Full length MDEFLYFAALNPGSIGPTLPPVQPFQFPTGPTGSTGATGSTGSTGSTGP hypothetical protein TGSTGSTGSTGSTGPTGPTGPTGSTGPTGPTGFNLPAGPASITLTSNETT bmyc0001_22540 ACVSTQGNNTLFFSGQVLVNGSPTPGVVVSFSFSNPSLAFMVPLAVIT SEQ ID NO: 32) NASGNFTAVFLAANGPGTVTVTASLLDSPGTMASVTITIVNCP AA 1-21 of MDSKNIGPTFPPLPSINFPTG hypothetical protein bmyc0001_21510 (B. mycoides 2048) (SEQ ID NO: 33) Full length MDSKNIGPTFPPLPSINFPTGVTGETGATGETGATGATGETGATGETG hypothetical protein ETGATGATGATGATGETGATGATGATGAAGATGETGATGETGATGE bmyc0001_21510 TGATGETGATGVTGETGATGETGAAGETGITGVTGPTGETGATGETG (SEQ ID NO: 34) ATGATGITGATGITGVAGATGETGAAGETGPTGATGAIGAIGATGAT GITGVTGATGETGAAGATGITGVTGATGETGAAGATGITGATGITGV AGATGITGPTGIPGTIPTTNLLYFTFSDGEKLIYTNADGIAQYGTTQILS PSEVSYINLFINGILQPQPFYEVTAGQLTLLDDEPPSQGSSIILQFIIIN AA 1-22 of collagen MIGPENIGPTFPILPPIYIPTG triple helix repeat protein (B. thuringiensis 35646) (SEQ ID NO: 35) Full length collagen MIGPENIGPTFPILPPIYIPTGETGPTGITGATGETGPTGITGPTGITGATG triple helix repeat ETGSTGITGATGETGSTGITGPIGITGATGETGPIGITGATGETGPTGITG protein STGITGLTGVTGLTGETGPIGITGPTGITGPTGVTGATGPTGGIGPITTT (SEQ ID NO: 36) NLLYYTFADGEKLIYTDTDGIPQYGTTNILSPSEVSYINLFVNGILQPQP LYEVSTGKLTLLDTQPPSQGSSIILQFIIIN AA 1-35 of MSNNNIPSPFFFNNFNPELIGPTFPPIPPLTLPTG hypothetical protein WP 69652 (B. cereus) (SEQ ID NO: 43) Full length MSNNNIPSPFFFNNFNPELIGPTFPPIPPLTLPTGPTGSTGATGATGPTGA hypothetical protein TGPTGATGPTGATGATGSTGATGPTGATGTFSSANASIVTPAPQTVNN WP 69652 LAPIQFTAPVLISKNVTFNGIDTFTIQIPGNYFFIGAVMTSNNQAGPVAV (SEQ ID NO: 44) GVGFNGIPVPSLDGANYGTPTGQEVVCFGFSGQIPAGTTINLYNISDKT ISIGGATAAGSSIVAARLSFFRIS AA 1-41 of MFSEKKRKDLIPDNFLSAPALDPNLIGPTFPPIPSFTLPTG exosporium leader WP016117717 (B. cereus) (SEQ ID NO: 45) Full length exosporium MFSEKKRKDLIPDNFLSAPALDPNLIGPTFPPIPSFTLPTGSTGPTGPTG leader WP016117717 DTGPTGPTATICIRTDPDNGCSVAEGSGTVASGFASHAEACNTQAIGD (SEQ ID NO: 46) CSHAEGQFATASGTASHAEGFQTTASGFASHTEGSGTTADANFSHTE GINTIVDVLHPGSHIMGKNGTTRSSFSWHLANGLAVGPSLNSAVIEGV TGNLYLDGVVISPNAADYAEMFETIDGNLIDVGYFVTLYGEKIRKAN ANDDYILGVVSATPAMIADASDLRWHNLFVRDEWGRTQYHEVVVPE KKMAMEE AA 1-49 of MTRKDKFNRSRISRRDRFNSPKIKSEILISPDLVGPTFPPIPSFTLPTG exosporium peptide WP002105192 (B. cereus) (SEQ ID NO: 47) Full length exosporium MTRKDKFNRSRISRRDRFNSPKIKSEILISPDLVGPTFPPIPSFTLPTGVT peptide WP002105192 GPTGNTGPTGITGPTGDTGPTGDTGPTGITGP (SEQ ID NO: 48) AA 1-38 of MSRKDRFNSPKIKSEISISPDLVGPTFPPIPSFTLPTG hypothetical protein WP87353 (B. cereus) (SEQ ID NO: 49) Full length MSRKDRFNSPKIKSEISISPD LVGPTFPPIPSFTLPTGITGPTGNTGPTGD hypothetical protein TGPTGPTFNINFRAEKNGAQSFTPPADIQVSYGNIIFNNGGGYSSVTNT WP87353 FTAPINGIYLFSANIGFNPTLGTTSTLRITIRKNLVSVASQTIDIQFSAAE (SEQ ID NO: 50) SGTLTVGSSNFF AA 1-39 of MKERDNKGKQHSLNSNFRIPPELIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIG exosporium peptide 02112369 (B. cereus) (SEQ ID NO: 51) Full length exosporium MKERDNKGKQHSLNSNFRIPPELIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIGITGPTGPQGPT peptide 02112369 GPQGPRGFQGPMGEMGPTGPQGVQGIQGPAGQMGATGPEGQQGPEG (SEQ ID NO: 52) LRGPVGATGATGLQGVQGIQGPIGSTGATGAQGIQGIQGLQGPIGATG PEGPQGIQGVQGLPGATGPQGVQGVQGVIGPQGPSGSTGGTGATGQG VTGPTGITGSTGVTGPSGGPPGPTGPTGATGPGGGPSGSTGVTGSTGN TGATGSPGVTGATGPTGSTGATGIQGSQGIQGIQGIQGPLGPTGPEGPQ GIQGIPGPTGITGEQGIQGVQGIQGITGATGDQGT AA 1-39 of MRERDNKRQQHSLNPNFRISPELIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIG exosporium protein WP016099770 (B. cereus) (SEQ ID NO: 53) Full length exosporium MRERDNKRQQHSLNPNFRISPELIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIGITGPTGPQGPT protein WP016099770 GPQGPRGFQGPMGEMGPTGPQGVQGIQGPVGPIGATGPEGQQGPQGL (SEQ ID NO: 54) RGPQGETGATGPGGVQGLQGPIGPTGATGAQGVQGIQGLQGPIGATG PEGPQGIQGVQGLPGATGSQGIQGVQGIQGPQGPSGNTGATGATGQGI TGPTGITGPTGITGPSGGPPGPTGPTGATGPGGGPSGSTGATGATGNTG ATGNTGITGATGSTGPTGSTGAQGLQGIQGIQGPIGPTGPEGPQGIQGIP GPTGVTGEQGIQGVQGIQGITGATGDQGPQGIQGVIGAQGVTGATGD QGPQGIQGVPGPSGATGPQGVQGIQGPMGDIGPTGPEGPEGLQGPQGI QGVPGPVGATGPEGPQGIQGIQGVQGATGPQGPQGIQGIQGVQGITGA TG AA 1-36 of MKNRDNKGKQQSNFRIPPELIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIG hypothetical protein YP006612525 (B. thuringiensis) (SEQ ID NO: 55) Full length MKNRDNKGKQQSNFRIPPELIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIGITGPTGPQGPTGP hypothetical protein QGPRGFQGPMGEMGPTGPQGVQGIQGPVGPIGATGPEGQQGAQGLR YP006612525 GPQGETGATGPQGVQGLQGPIGPTGATGAQGIQGIQGLQGPIGATGPE (SEQ ID NO: 56) GPQGIQGVQGLPGATGPQGIQGAQGIQGTQGPSGNTGATGATGQGLT GPTGITGPTGITGPSGGPPGPTGPTGATGPGGGPSGSTGATGATGDTG ATGSTGVTGATGAQGPQGVQGIQGPTGATGATGATGPQGIQGPQGIQ GPTGATGATGSQGPTGNTGPTGSQGIQGPTGPTGAGATGATGATGAT GVSTTATYAFANNTSGSIISVLLGGTNIPLPNNQNIGPGITVSGGNTVFT VANAGNYYIAYTINLTAGLLVSSRITVNGSPLAGTINSPAVAAGSFSAT IIANLPAGAAVSLQLFGVIALATLSTATPGATLTIIRLS AA 1-136 of MKFSKKSTVDSSIVGKRVVSKVNILRFYDARSCQDKDVDGFVDVGEL hypothetical protein FTIFRKLNMEGSVQFKAHNSIGKTYYITINEVYVFVTVLLQYSTLIGGS TIGR03720 YVFDKNEIQKINGILQANALNPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTG (B. mycoides) (SEQ ID NO: 57)** Full length MKFSKKSTVDSSIVGKRVVSKVNILRFYDARSCQDKDVDGFVDVGEL hypothetical protein FTIFRKLNMEGSVQFKAHNSIGKTYYITINEVYVFVTVLLQYSTLIGGS TIGR03720 YVFDKNEIQKINGILQANALNPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTGPTGGTGPTGV (SEQ ID NO: 58)** TGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTG VTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGGTEGCLCDCCVLPMQSVLQQLIG ETVILGTIADTPNTPPLFFLFTITSVNDFLVTVTDGTTTFVVNISDVTGV GFLPPGPPITLLPPTDVGCECECRERPIRQLLDAFIGSTVSLLASNGSIAA DFSVEQTGLGIVLGTLPINPTTTVRFAISTCKITAVNITPITM AA 1-196 of Bc1A MSNNNYSNGLNPDESLSASAFDPNLVGPTLPPIPPFTLPTGPTGPFTTG (B. anthracis Sterne) PTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGDTGTTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGP (SEQ ID NO: 59)* TGPTGPTGFTPTGPTGPTGPTGDTGTTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGDTGTTG PTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTFTGPTGPTGPTGATGLTGPTGPTGPSGLG Met + AA 20-35 of MAFDPNLVGPTLPPIPP Bc1A (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 60) Met + AA 12-27 of MALEPNLIGPTLPPIPP BetA/B AS3290 (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 61) Met + AA 18-33 of MALNPNLIGPTLPPIPP gene 2280 (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 62) Met + AA 18-33 of MALDPNIIGPTLPPIPP gene 3572 (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 63) Met + AA 12-27 of MALEPNLIGPTLPSIPP Exosporium Leader Peptide (B. cereus VD166) (SEQ ID NO: 64) Met + AA 18-33 of MALDPNLIGPPLPPITP YVTN β-propeller protein (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 65) Met + AA 9-24 of MALNPGSIGPTLPPVPP hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363 (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 66) Met + AA 9-24 of MALNPCSIGPTLPPMQP hypothetical protein bccrkbab4_2131 (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 67) Met + AA 9-24 of MALNPGSIGPTLPPVQP hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540 (B. mycoides 2048) (SEQ ID NO: 68) Met + AA 9-24 of MALNPGSVGPTLPPMQP BAS1882 (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 69) Met + AA 20-35 of MALDPNLIGPTFPPIPS exosporium leader WP016117717 (B. cereus) (SEQ ID NO: 70) Full length InhA MKRKTPFKVFSSLAITTMLGCTFALGTSVAYAETTSQSKGSISTTPIDN (B. mycoides) NL1QEERLAEALKERGTIDQSASKEETQKAVEQY1EKKKGDQPNKE1L (SEQ ID NO: 71) PDDPAKEASDFVKKVKEKKMEEKEKVKKSVENASSEQTPSQNKKQL NGKVPTSPAKQAPYNGAVRTDKVLVLLVEFSDYKHNN1EQSPGYMY ANDFSREHYQKMLFGNEPFTLFDGSKVKTFKQYYEEQSGGSYTTDGY VTEWLTVPGKAADYGADGKTGHDNKGPKGARDLVKEALKAAAEKG LDLSQFDQFDRYDTNGDGNQNEPDGVIDHLMV1HAGVGQEAGGGKL GDDAIWSHRSKLAQDPVAIEGTKSKVSYWDGKVAAHDYTIEPEDGA VGVFAHEFGHDLGLPDEYDTNYTGAGSPVEAWSLMSGGSWTGRIAG TEPTSFSPQNKDFLQKNMDGNWAKIVEVDYDKIKRGVGFPTYIDQSV TKSNRPGLVRVNLPEKSVETIKTGFGKHAYYSTRGDDMHTTLETPLF DLTKAANAKFDYKANYELEAECDFIEVHAVTEDGTKTLIDKLGDKVV KGDQDTTEGKWIDKSYDLSQFKGKKVKLQFDYITDPALTYKGFAMD NVNVTVDGKVVFSDDAEGQAKMKLNGFVVSDGTEKKPHYYYLEWR NYAGSDEGLKVGRGPVYNTGLVVWYADDSFKDNWVGRHPGEGFLG VVDSHPEAVVGNLNGKPVYGNTGLQIADAAFSLDQTPAWNVNSFTR GQFNYPGLPGVATFDDSKVYSNTQIPDAGRKVPQLGLKFQVVGQAD DKSAGAIWIRR Full length BAS1141 MSCNENKHHGSSHCVVDVVKFINELQDCSTTTCGSGCEIPFLGAHNT (ExsY) ASVANTRPFILYTKAGAPFEAFAPSANLTSCRSPIFRVESVDDDSCAVL (B. anthracis Sterne) RVLSVVLGDSSPVPPTDDPICTFLAVPNARLVSTSTCITVDLSCFCAIQC (SEQ ID NO: 72) LRDVTI Full length BAS1144 MFSSDCEFTKIDCEAKPASTLPAFGFAFNASAPQFASLFTPLLLPSVSPN (BxpB/ExsFA) PNITVPVINDTVSVGDGIRILRAGIYQISYTLTISLDNSPVAPEAGRFFLS (B. anthracis Sterne) LGTPANIIPGSGTAVRSNVIGTGEVDVSSGVILINLNPGDLIRIVPVELIG (SEQ ID NO: 73) TVDIRAAALTVAQIS Full length BAS1145 MSCNCNEDHHHHDCDFNCVSNVVRFIHELQECATTTCGSGCEVPFLG (CotY) AHNSASVANTRPFILYTKAGAPFEAFAPSANLTSCRSPIFRVESIDDDD (B. anthracis Sterne) CAVLRVLSVVLGDTSPVPPTDDPICTFLAVPNARLISTNTCLTVDLSCF (SEQ ID NO: 74) CAIQCLRDVTI Full length BAS1140 MEVGGTSVKNKNKSSTVGKPLLYIAQVSLELAAPKTKRIILTNFENED (B. anthracis Sterne) RKEESNRNENVVSSAVEEVIEQEEQQQEQEQEQEEQVEEKTEEEEQV (SEQ ID NO: 75) QEQQEPVRTVPYNKSFKDMNNEEKIHFLLNRPHYIPKVRCRIKTATIS YVGSIISYRNGIVAIMPPNSMRDIRLSIEEIKSIDMAGF Full length ExsFB MKERSENMRSSSRKLTNFNCRAQAPSTLPALGFAFNATSPQFATLFTP (B. anthracis H9401) LLLPSTGPNPNITVPVINDTISTGTGIRIQVAGIYQISYTLTISLDNVPVTP (SEQ ID NO: 76) EAARFFLTLNSSTNIIAGSGTAVRSNIIGTGEVDVSSGVILINLNPGDLIQ IVPVEVIGTVDIRSAALTVAQIR Full length InhA1 MSKKPFKVLSSIALTAVLGLSFGAGTQSAYAETPVNKTATSPVDDHLI (B. thuringiensis PEERLADALKKRGVIDSKASETETKKAVEKYVENKKGENPGKEAAN HD74) GDQLTKDASDFLKKVKDAKADTKEKLNQPATGTPAATGPVKGGLNG (SEQ ID NO: 77) KVPTSPAKQKDYNGEVRKDKVLVLLVEYADFKHNNIDKEPGYMYSN DFNKEHYEKMLFGNEPFTLDDGSKIETFKQYYEEQSGGSYTVDGTVT KWLTVPGKAADYGADAPGGGHDNKGPKGPRDLVKDALKAAVDSGI DLSEFDQFDQYDVNGDGNKNQPDGLIDHLMIIHAGVGQEAGGGKLG DDAIWSHRWTVGPKPFPIEGTQAKVPYWGGKMAAFDYTIEPEDGAV GVFAHEYGHDLGLPDEYDTQYSGQGEPIEAWSIMSGGSWAGKIAGTT PTSFSPQNKEFFQKTIGGNWANIVEVDYEKLNKGIGLATYLDQSVTKS ARPGMIRVNLPDKDVKTIEPAFGKQYYYSTKGDDLHTKMETPLFDLT NATSAKFDFKSLYEIEAGYDFLEVHAVTEDGKQTLIERLGEKANSGN ADSTNGKWIDKSYDLSQFKGKKVKLTFDYITDGGLALNGFALDNASL TVDGKVVFSDDAEGTPQLKLDGFVVSNGTEKKKHNYYVEWRNYAG ADNALKFARGPVFNTGMVVWYADSAYTDNWVGVHPGHGFLGVVD SHPEAIVGTLNGKPTVKSSTRFQIADAAFSFDKTPAWKVVSPTRGTFT YDGLAGVPKFDDSKTYINQQIPDAGRILPKLGLKFEVVGQADDNSAG AVRLYR Full length ExsJ MKHNDCFDHNNCNPIVFSADCCKNPQSVPITREQLSQLITLLNSLVSAI (B. cereus ATCC SAFFANPSNANRLVLLDLFNQFLIFLNSLLPSPEVNFLKQLTQSIIVLLQ 10876) SPAPNLGQLSTLLQQFYSALAQFFFALDLIPISCNSNVDSATLQLLFNL (SEQ ID NO: 78) LIQLINATPGATGPTGPTGPTGPTGPAGTGAGPTGATGATGATGPTGA TGPAGTGGATGATGATGVTGATGATGATGPTGPTGATGPTGATGAT GATGPTGATGPTGATGLTGATGAAGGGAIIPFASGTTPSALVNALVA NTGTLLGFGFSQPGVALTGGTSITLALGVGDYAFVAPRAGTITSLAGF FSATAALAPISPVQVQIQILTAPAASNTFTVQGAPLLLTPAFAAIAIGST ASGIIAEAIPVAAGDKILLYVSLTAASPIAAVAGFVSAGINIV Full length ExsH MKHNDCFGHNNCNNPIVFTPDCCNNPQTVPITSEQLGRLITLLNSLIAA (B. cereus) IAAFFANPSDANRLALLNLFTQLLNLLNELAPSPEGNFLKQLIQSIINLL (SEQ ID NO: 79) QSPNPNLGQLLSLLQQFYSALAPFFFSLILDPASLQLLLNLLAQLIGVTP GGGATGPTGPTGPGGGATGPTGPTGPGGGATGPTGATGPTGDTGLAG ATGATGPTGDTGVAGPAGPTGPTGDTGLAGATGPTGPTGDTGLAGA TGPTGATGLAGATGPTGATGLTGATGATGAAGGGAIIPFASGTTPAAL VNALIANTGTLLGFGFSQPGIGLAGGTSITLALGVGDYAFVAPRDGVI TSLAGFFSATAALSPLSPVQVQIQILTAPAASNTFTVQGAPLLLTPAFA AIAIGSTASGIIPEAIPVVAGDKILLYVSLTAASPIAAVAGFVSAGINIV Full length YjcA MLFTSWLLFFIFALAAFRLTRLIVYDKITGFLRRPFIDELEITEPDGSVST (B. anthracis Ames)  FTKVKGKGLRKWIGELLSCYWCTGVWVSAFLLVLYNWIPIVAEPLLA (SEQ ID NO: 80) LLAIAGAAAIIETITGYFMGE Full length YjcB MFAVSNNPRQNSYDLQQWYHMQQQHQAQQQAYQEQLQQQGFVKK (B. anthracis) KGCNCGKKKSTIKHYEE (SEQ ID NO: 81) Full length Bc1C MSRYDDSQNKFSKPCFPSSAGRIPNTPSIPVTKAQLRTFRAIIIDLTKIIP (B. anthracis Sterne) KLFANPSPQNIEDLIDTLNLLSKFIC SLDAASSLKAQGLAIIKNLITILKN (SEQ ID NO: 82) PTFVASAVFIELQNLINYLLSITKLFRIDPCTLQELLKLIAALQTALVNS ASFIQGPTGPTGPTGPTGPAGATGATGPQGVQGPAGATGATGPQGVQ GPAGATGATGPQGAQGPAGATGATGPQGAQGPAGATGATGPQGIQG PAGATGATGPQGVQGPTGATGIGVTGPTGPSGGPAGATGPQGPQGNT GATGPQGIQGPAGATGATGPQGAQGPAGATGATGPQGVQGPTGATG IGVTGPTGPSGPSFPVATIVVTNNIQQTVLQFNNFIFNTAINVNNIIFNG TDTVTVINAGIYVISVSISTTAPGCAPLGVGISINGAVATDNFSSNLIGD SLSFTTIETLTAGANISVQSTLNEITIPATGNTNIRLTVFRIA Full length acid MKMKRGITTLLSVAVLSTSLVACSGITEKTVAKEEKVKLTDQQLMAD phosphatase LWYQTAGEMKALYYQGYNIGQLKLDAVLAKGTEKKPAIVLDLDETV (Bacillus thuringiensis LDNSPHQAMSVKTGKGYPYKWDDWINKAEAEALPGAIDFLKYTESK serovar konkukian str. GVDIYYISNRKTNQLDATIKNLERVGAPQATKEHILLQDPKEKGKEKR 97-27) RELVSQTHDIVLFFGDNLSDFTGFDGKSVKDRNQAVADSKAQFGEKFI SEQ ID NO: 83) IFPNPMYGDWEGALYDYDFKKSDAEKDKIRRDNLKSFDTK Full length InhA2 MKKKKKLKPLAVLTTAAVLSSTFAFGGHAAYAETPTSSLPIDEHLIPE (B. thuringiensis ERLAEALKQRGVIDQSASQAETSKAVEKYVEKKKGENPGKEILTGDS HD74) LTQEASDFMKKVKDAKMRENEQAQQPEVGPVAGQGAALNPGKLNG (SEQ ID NO: 84) KVPTTSAKQEEYNGAVRKDKVLVLLVEFSDFKHNNIDQEPGYMYSK DFNREHYQKMLFGDEPFTLFDGSKINTFKQYYEEQSGGSYTVDGTVT EWLTVPGKASDYGADAGTGHDNKGPLGPKDLVKEALKAAVAKGIN LADFDQYDQYDQNGNGNKNEPDGIIDHLMVVHAGVGQEAGGGKLK DDAIWSHRSKLGSKPYAIDGTKSSVSNWGGKMAAYDYTIEPEDGAV GVFAHEYGHDLGLPDEYDTKYSGQGEPVESWSIMSGGSWAGKIAGT EPTSFSPQNKEFFQKNMKGNWANILEVDYDKLSKGIGVATYVDQSTT KSKRPGIVRVNLPDKDIKNIESAFGKKFYYSTKGNDIHTTLETPVFDLT NAKDAKFDYKAFYELEAKYDFLDVYAIAEDGTKTRIDRMGEKDIKG GADTTDGKWVDKSYDLSQFKGKKVKLQFEYLTDIAVAYKGFALDNA ALTVDGKVVFSDDAEGQPAMTLKGFTVSNGFEQKKHNYYVEWRNY AGSDTALQYARGPVFNTGMVVWYADQSFTDNWVGVHPGEGFLGVV DSHPEAIVGTLNGQPTVKSSTRYQIADAAFSFDQTPAWKVNSPTRGIF DYKGLPGVAKFDDSKQYINSVIPDAGRKLPKLGLKFEVVGQAEDKSA GAVWLHR AA = amino acids * B. anthracis Sterne strain Bc1A has 100% sequence identity with B. thuringiensis Bc1A. Thus, SEQ ID NOs: 1,2, and 59 also represent amino acids 1-41 of B. thuringiensis Bc1A, full length B. thuringiensis Bc1A, and amino acids 1-196 of B. thuringiensis Bc1A, respectively. Likewise, SEQ ID NO: 60 also represents a methionine residue plus amino acids 20-35 of B. thuringiensis Bc1A. ** B. mycoides hypothetical protein TIGR03720 has 100% sequence identity with B. mycoides hypothetical protein WP003189234. Thus, SEQ ID NOs: 57 and 58 also represent amino acids 1-136 of B. mycoides hypothetical protein WP003189234 and full length B. mycoides hypothetical protein WP003189234, respectively.

Bacillus is a genus of rod-shaped bacteria. The Bacillus cereus family of bacteria includes the species Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus pseudomycoides, Bacillus samanii, Bacillus gaemokensis, and Bacillus weihenstephensis. Under stressful environmental conditions, Bacillus cereus family bacteria undergo sporulation and form oval endospores that can stay dormant for extended periods of time. The outermost layer of the endospores is known as the exosporium and comprises a basal layer surrounded by an external nap of hair-like projections. Filaments on the hair-like nap are predominantly formed by the collagen-like glycoprotein BclA, while the basal layer is comprised of a number of different proteins. Another collagen-related protein, BclB, is also present in the exosporium and exposed on endospores of Bacillus cereus family members. BclA, the major constituent of the surface nap, has been shown to be attached to the exosporium with its amino-terminus (N-terminus) positioned at the basal layer and its carboxy-terminus (C-terminus) extending outward from the spore.

It was previously discovered that certain sequences from the N-terminal regions of BclA and BclB could be used to target a peptide or protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus endospore (see U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2010/0233124 and 2011/0281316, and Thompson et al., Targeting of the BclA and BclB proteins to the Bacillus anthracis spore surface, Molecular Microbiology 70(2):421-34 (2008), the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference). It was also found that the BetA/BAS3290 protein of Bacillus anthracis localized to the exosporium.

In particular, amino acids 20-35 of BclA from Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain have been found to be sufficient for targeting to the exosporium. A sequence alignment of amino acids 1-41 of BclA (SEQ ID NO: 1) with the corresponding N-terminal regions of several other Bacillus cereus family exosporium proteins and Bacillus cereus family proteins having related sequences is shown in FIG. 1 . As can be seen from FIG. 1 , there is a region of high-homology among all of the proteins in the region corresponding to amino acids 20-41 of BclA. However, in these sequences, the amino acids corresponding to amino acids 36-41 of BclA contain secondary structure and are not necessary for fusion protein localization to the exosporium. The conserved targeting sequence region of BclA (amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1) is shown in bold in FIG. 1 and corresponds to the minimal targeting sequence needed for localization to the exosporium. A more highly conserved region spanning amino acids 25-35 of BclA within the targeting sequence is underlined in the sequences in FIG. 1 , and is the recognition sequence for ExsFA/BxpB/ExsFB and homologs, which direct and assemble the described proteins on the surface of the exosporium The amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs. 3, 5, and 7 in FIG. 1 are amino acids 1-33 of Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain BetA/BAS3290, a methionine followed by amino acids 2-43 of Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain BAS4623, and amino acids 1-34 of Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain BclB, respectively. (For BAS4623, it was found that replacing the valine present at position 1 in the native protein with a methionine resulted in better expression.) As can be seen from FIG. 1 , each of these sequences contains a conserved region corresponding to amino acids 20-35 of BclA (SEQ ID NO: 1; shown in bold), and a more highly conserved region corresponding to amino acids 20-35 of BclA (underlined).

Additional proteins from Bacillus cereus family members also contain the conserved targeting region. In particular, in FIG. 1 , SEQ ID NO: 9 is amino acids 1-30 of Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain BAS1882, SEQ ID NO: 11 is amino acids 1-39 of the Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 2280 gene product, SEQ ID NO: 13 is amino acids 1-39 of the Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 3572 gene product, SEQ ID NO: 15 is amino acids 1-49 of Bacillus cereus VD200 exosporium leader peptide, SEQ ID NO: 17 is amino acids 1-33 of Bacillus cereus VD166 exosporium leader peptide, SEQ ID NO: 19 is amino acids 1-39 of Bacillus cereus VD200 hypothetical protein IKG_04663, SEQ ID NO: 21 is amino acids 1-39 of Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 YVTN β-propeller protein, SEQ ID NO: 23 is amino acids 1-30 of Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363, SEQ ID NO: 25 is amino acids 1-30 of Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2131, SEQ ID NO: 27 is amino acids 1-36 of Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 triple helix repeat containing collagen, SEQ ID NO: 29 is amino acids 1-39 of Bacillus mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyco0001_21660, SEQ ID NO: 31 is amino acids 1-30 of Bacillus mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540, SEQ ID NO: 33 is amino acids 1-21 of Bacillus mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_21510, SEQ ID NO: 35 is amino acids 1-22 of Bacillus thuringiensis 35646 collagen triple helix repeat protein, SEQ ID NO: 43 is amino acids 1-35 of Bacillus cereus hypothetical protein WP_69652, SEQ ID NO: 45 is amino acids 1-41 of Bacillus cereus exosporium leader WP016117717, SEQ ID NO: 47 is amino acids 1-49 of Bacillus cereus exosporium peptide WP002105192, SEQ ID NO: 49 is amino acids 1-38 of Bacillus cereus hypothetical protein WP87353, SEQ ID NO: 51 is amino acids 1-39 of Bacillus cereus exosporium peptide 02112369, SEQ ID NO: 53 is amino acids 1-39 of Bacillus cereus exosporium protein WP016099770, SEQ ID NO: 55 is amino acids 1-36 of Bacillus thuringiensis hypothetical protein YP006612525, and SEQ ID NO: 57 is amino acids 1-136 of Bacillus mycoides hypothetical protein TIGR03720. As shown in FIG. 1 , each of the N-terminal regions of these proteins contains a region that is conserved with amino acids 20-35 of BclA (SEQ ID NO: 1), and a more highly conserved region corresponding to amino acids 25-35 of BclA.

In the fusion proteins of the present invention, any portion of BclA which includes amino acids 20-35 can be used as the targeting sequence in the present invention. In addition, full-length exosporium proteins or exosporium protein fragments can be used for targeting the fusion proteins to the exosporium. Thus, full-length BelA or a fragment of BelA that includes amino acids 20-35 can be used for targeting to the exosporium. For example, full length BclA (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a midsized fragment of BclA that lacks the carboxy-terminus such as SEQ ID NO: 59 (amino acids 1-196 of BclA) can be used to target the fusion proteins to the exosporium. Midsized fragments such as the fragment of SEQ ID NO: 59 have less secondary structure than full length BclA and has been found to be suitable for use as a targeting sequence. The targeting sequence can also comprise much shorter portions of BclA which include amino acids 20-35, such as SEQ ID NO: 1 (amino acids 1-41 of BclA), amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or SEQ ID NO: 60 (a methionine residue linked to amino acids 20-35 of BclA). Even shorter fragments of BclA which include only some of amino acids 20-35 also exhibit the ability to target fusion proteins to the exosporium. For example, the targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 22-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 22-33 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or amino acids 20-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Alternatively, any portion of BetA/BAS3290, BAS4623, BclB, BAS1882, the KBAB4 2280 gene product, the KBAB4 3572 gene product, B. cereus VD200 exosporium leader peptide, B. cereus VD166 exosporium leader peptide, B. cereus VD200 hypothetical protein IKG_04663, B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 YVTN β-propeller protein, B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363, B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2131, B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 triple helix repeat containing collagen, B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyco0001_21660, B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540, B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_21510, B. thuringiensis 35646 collagen triple helix repeat protein, B. cereus hypothetical protein WP_69652, B. cereus exosporium leader WP016117717, B. cereus exosporium peptide WP002105192, B. cereus hypothetical protein WP87353, B. cereus exosporium peptide 02112369, B. cereus exosporium protein WP016099770, B. thuringiensis hypothetical protein YP006612525, or B. mycoides hypothetical protein TIGR03720 which includes the amino acids corresponding to amino acids 20-35 of BclA can serve as the targeting sequence. As can be seen from FIG. 1 , amino acids 12-27 of BetA/BAS3290, amino acids 23-38 of BAS4623, amino acids 13-28 of BclB, amino acids 9-24 of BAS1882, amino acids 18-33 of KBAB4 2280 gene product, amino acids 18-33 of KBAB4 3572 gene product, amino acids 28-43 of B. cereus VD200 exosporium leader peptide, amino acids 12-27 of B. cereus VD166 exosporium leader peptide, amino acids 18-33 of B. cereus VD200 hypothetical protein IKG_04663, amino acids 18-33 B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 YVTN β-propeller protein, amino acids 9-24 of B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363, amino acids 9-24 of B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2131, amino acids 15-30 of B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 triple helix repeat containing collagen, amino acids 18-33 of B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyco0001_21660, amino acids 9-24 of B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540, amino acids 1-15 of B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_21510, amino acids 1-16 of B. thuringiensis 35646 collagen triple helix repeat protein, amino acids 14-29 of B. cereus hypothetical protein WP_69652, amino acids 20-35 of B. cereus exosporium leader WP016117717, amino acids 28-43 of B. cereus exosporium peptide WP002105192, amino acids 17-32 of B. cereus hypothetical protein WP87353, amino acids 18-33 of B. cereus exosporium peptide 02112369, amino acids 18-33 of B. cereus exosporium protein WP016099770, amino acids 15-30 of B. thuringiensis hypothetical protein YP006612525, and amino acids 115-130 of B. mycoides hypothetical protein TIGR03720 correspond to amino acids 20-35 of BclA. Thus, any portion of these proteins that includes the above-listed corresponding amino acids can serve as the targeting sequence.

Furthermore, any amino acid sequence comprising amino acids 20-35 of BclA, or any of the above-listed corresponding amino acids can serve as the targeting sequence.

Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 60, amino acids 22-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 22-33 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or amino acids 20-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 1, or SEQ ID NO: 60. Alternatively, the targeting sequence can consist of amino acids 22-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 22-33 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or amino acids 20-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1. Alternatively, the exosporium protein can comprise full length BclA (SEQ ID NO: 2), or the exosporium protein fragment can comprise a midsized fragment of BclA that lacks the carboxy-terminus, such as SEQ ID NO: 59 (amino acids 1-196 of BclA). Alternatively, the exosporium protein fragment can consist of SEQ ID NO: 59.

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID NO: 3, amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID NO: 3, or SEQ ID NO: 3, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length BetA/BAS3290 (SEQ ID NO: 4). It has also been found that a methionine residue linked to amino acids 12-27 of BetA/BAS3290 can be used as a targeting sequence. Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise SEQ ID NO: 61. The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 14-23 of SEQ ID NO: 3, amino acids 14-25 of SEQ ID NO: 3, or amino acids 12-23 of SEQ ID NO: 3.

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-38 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acids 23-38 of SEQ ID NO: 5, or SEQ ID NO: 5, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length BAS4623 (SEQ ID NO: 6).

Alternatively, the targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-28 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acids 13-28 of SEQ ID NO: 7, or SEQ ID NO: 7, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length BclB (SEQ ID NO:8).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 9, amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 9, or SEQ ID NO: 9, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length BAS1882 (SEQ ID NO: 10). A methionine residue linked to amino acids 9-24 of BAS1882 can also be used as a targeting sequence. Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise SEQ ID NO: 69.

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO:11, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 11, or SEQ ID NO: 11, or the exosporium protein can comprise the full length B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 2280 gene product (SEQ ID NO: 12). A methionine residue linked to amino acids 18-33 of the B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 2280 gene product can also be used as a targeting sequence. Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise SEQ ID NO: 62.

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 13, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 13, or SEQ ID NO:13, or the exosporium protein can comprise the full length B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 3572 gene product (SEQ ID NO:14). A methionine residue linked to amino acids 18-33 of the B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 3572 gene product can also be used as a targeting sequence. Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise SEQ ID NO: 63.

Alternatively, the targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-43 of SEQ ID NO: 15, amino acids 28-43 of SEQ ID NO: 15, or SEQ ID NO:15, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. cereus VD200 exosporium leader peptide (SEQ ID NO:16).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID NO: 17, amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID NO: 17, or SEQ ID NO:17, or the exosporium protein can comprise full-length B. cereus VD166 exosporium leader peptide (SEQ ID NO:18). A methionine residue linked to amino acids 12-27 of the B. cereus VD166 exosporium leader peptide can also be used as a targeting sequence. Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise SEQ ID NO: 64.

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 19, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 19, or SEQ ID NO:19, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. cereus VD200 hypothetical protein IKG_04663 (SEQ ID NO:20).

Alternatively, the targeting sequence comprises amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 21, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 21, or SEQ ID NO:21, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 YVTN β-propeller protein (SEQ ID NO:22). A methionine residue linked to amino acids 18-33 of the B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 YVTN 3-propeller protein can also be used as a targeting sequence. Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise SEQ ID NO: 65.

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 23, amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 23, or SEQ ID NO:23, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363 (SEQ ID NO:24). A methionine residue linked to amino acids 9-24 of B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363 can also be used as a targeting sequence. Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise SEQ ID NO: 66.

The targeting sequence comprise amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 25, amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 25, or SEQ ID NO:25, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2131 (SEQ ID NO:26). A methionine residue linked to amino acids 9-24 of B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2131 can also be used as a targeting sequence. Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise SEQ ID NO: 67.

Alternatively, the targeting sequence comprises amino acids 1-30 of SEQ ID NO: 27, amino acids 15-30 of SEQ ID NO: 27, or SEQ ID NO:27, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 triple helix repeat containing collagen (SEQ ID NO:28).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 29, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 29, or SEQ ID NO:29, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyco0001_21660 (SEQ ID NO:30).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 31, amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 31, or SEQ ID NO:31, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540 (SEQ ID NO:32). A methionine residue linked to amino acids 9-24 of B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540 can also be used as a targeting sequence. Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise SEQ ID NO: 68.

Alternatively, the targeting sequence comprises amino acids 1-15 of SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO:33, or the exosporium protein comprises full length B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_21510 (SEQ ID NO:34).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-16 of SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO:35, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. thuringiensis 35646 collagen triple helix repeat protein (SEQ ID NO:36).

The targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-29 of SEQ ID NO:43, amino acids 14-29 of SEQ ID NO: 43, or SEQ ID NO: 43, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. cereus hypothetical protein WP_69652 (SEQ ID NO: 44).

Alternatively, the targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 45, amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 45, or SEQ ID NO: 45, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. cereus exosporium leader WP016117717 (SEQ ID NO: 46). A methionine residue linked to amino acids 20-35 of B. cereus exosporium leader WPO16117717 can also be used as a targeting sequence. Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise SEQ ID NO: 70.

The targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-43 of SEQ ID NO: 47, amino acids 28-43 of SEQ ID NO: 47, or SEQ ID NO: 47, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. cereus exosporium peptide WP002105192 (SEQ ID NO: 48).

The targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-32 of SEQ ID NO: 49, amino acids 17-32 of SEQ ID NO: 49, or SEQ ID NO: 49, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. cereus hypothetical protein WP87353 (SEQ ID NO: 50).

Alternatively, the targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 51, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 51, or SEQ ID NO: 51, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. cereus exosporium peptide 02112369 (SEQ ID NO: 52).

The targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 53, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 53, or SEQ ID NO: 53, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. cereus exosporium protein WP016099770 (SEQ ID NO: 54).

Alternatively, the targeting sequence can comprise acids 1-30 of SEQ ID NO: 55, amino acids 15-30 of SEQ ID NO: 55, or SEQ ID NO: 55, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. thuringiensis hypothetical protein YP006612525 (SEQ ID NO: 56).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-130 of SEQ ID NO: 57, amino acids 115-130 of SEQ ID NO: 57, or SEQ ID NO: 57, or the exosporium protein can comprise full length B. mycoides hypothetical protein TIGR03720 (SEQ ID NO: 58).

In addition, it can readily be seen from the sequence alignment in FIG. 1 that while amino acids 20-35 of BclA are conserved, and amino acids 25-35 are more conserved, some degree of variation can occur in this region without affecting the ability of the targeting sequence to target a protein to the exosporium. FIG. 1 lists the percent identity of each of corresponding amino acids of each sequence to amino acids 20-35 of BclA (“20-35% Identity”) and to amino acids 25-35 of BclA (“25-35% Identity”). Thus, for example, as compared to amino acids 20-35 of BclA, the corresponding amino acids of BetA/BAS3290 are about 81.3% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BAS4623 are about 50.0% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BclB are about 43.8% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BAS1882 are about 62.5% identical, the corresponding amino acids of the KBAB4 2280 gene product are about 81.3% identical, and the corresponding amino acids of the KBAB4 3572 gene product are about 81.3% identical. The sequence identities over this region for the remaining sequences are listed in FIG. 1 .

With respect to amino acids 25-35 of BclA, the corresponding amino acids of BetA/BAS3290 are about 90.9% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BAS4623 are about 72.7% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BclB are about 54.5% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BAS1882 are about 72.7% identical, the corresponding amino acids of the KBAB4 2280 gene product are about 90.9% identical, and the corresponding amino acids of the KBAB4 3572 gene product are about 81.8% identical. The sequence identities over this region for the remaining sequences are listed in FIG. 1 .

Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 54%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 54%.

The targeting sequence can also comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%. Alternatively the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%.

The targeting sequence can also comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%.

The targeting sequence can also comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 56% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 56% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%.

Alternatively, the targeting sequence can comprise an amino sequence having at least about 62% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%. The targeting sequence can also consist of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 62% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 of SEQ ID NO:1 is at least about 72%.

The targeting sequence can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least 68% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least 68% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%.

The targeting sequence can also comprises an amino sequence having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 of SEQ ID NO:1 is at least about 72%.

The targeting sequence can also comprise an amino sequence having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 of SEQ ID NO:1 is at least about 81%.

The targeting sequence can also comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%.

The targeting sequence can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 90%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 90%.

The skilled person will recognize that variants of the above sequences can also be used as targeting sequences, so long as the targeting sequence comprises amino acids 20-35 of BclA, the corresponding amino acids of BetA/BAS3290, BAS4263, BclB, BAS1882, the KBAB4 2280 gene product, or the KBAB 3572 gene product, or a sequence comprising any of the above noted sequence identities to amino acids 20-35 and 25-35 of BclA is present.

It has further been discovered that certain Bacillus cereus family exosporium proteins which lack regions having homology to amino acids 25-35 of BclA can also be used to target a peptide or protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member. In particular, the fusion proteins can comprise an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 71 (B. mycoides InhA), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 72 (B. anthracis Sterne BAS1141 (ExsY)), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 73 (B. anthracis Sterne BAS1144 (BxpB/ExsFA)), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 74 (B. anthracis Sterne BAS1145 (CotY)), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 75 (B. anthracis Sterne BAS1140), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 76 (B. anthracis H9401 ExsFB), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 77 (B. thuringiensis HD74 InhA1), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 78 (B. cereus ATCC 10876 ExsJ), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 79 (B. cereus ExsH), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 80 (B. anthracis Ames YjcA), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 81 (B. anthracis YjcB), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 82 (B. anthracis Sterne BclC), an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 83 (Bacillus thuringiensis serovar konkukian str. 97-27 acid phosphatase), or an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 84 (B. thuringiensis HD74 InhA2). Inclusion of an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, or 84 in the fusion proteins described herein will result in targeting to the exosporium of a B. cereus family member.

Moreover, exosporium proteins having a high degree of sequence identity with any of the full-length exosporium proteins or the exosporium protein fragments described above can also be used to target a peptide or protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member. Thus, the fusion protein can comprise an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 59, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, and 84. Alternatively, the fusion protein can comprise an exosporium protein having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 59, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, and 84.

Alternatively, the fusion protein can comprise an exosporium protein fragment consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with SEQ ID NO: 59. Alternatively, the fusion protein can comprise an exosporium protein fragment consisting of an amino acid sequence having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity with SEQ ID NO: 59.

In any of the targeting sequences, exosporium proteins, or exosporium protein fragments described herein, the targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment can comprise the amino acid sequence GXT at its carboxy terminus, wherein X is any amino acid.

In any of the targeting sequences, exosporium proteins, and exosporium protein fragments described herein, the targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment, can comprise an alanine residue at the position of the targeting sequence that corresponds to amino acid 20 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

Fusion Proteins

The present invention relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment, and at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, wherein the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a peptide hormone, a non-hormone peptide, or an enzyme involved in the production or activation of a plant growth stimulating compound. The targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment can be any of the targeting sequences, exosporium proteins, or exosporium protein fragments described herein above.

The present invention additionally relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment, and at least one protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant. The targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment can be any of the targeting sequences, exosporium proteins, or exosporium protein fragments described herein above.

In addition, the present invention relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment, and at least one plant binding protein or peptide. The targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment can be any of the targeting sequences, exosporium proteins, or exosporium protein fragments described herein above.

The present invention also relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment, and at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen. The targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment can be any of the targeting sequences, exosporium proteins, or exosporium protein fragments described herein above.

The present invention further relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence, an exosporium protein, or an exosporium protein fragment, and at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen. The protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen comprises a harpin, an α-elastin, a β-elastin, a systemin, a phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, an elicitin, a defensin, a cryptogein, a flagellin protein, a flagellin peptide, a bacteriocin, a lysozyme, a lysozyme peptide, a siderophore, a non-ribosomal active peptide, a conalbumin, an albumin, a lactoferrin, a lactoferrin peptide, TasA. Alternatively, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen has insecticidal activity, helminthicidal activity, suppresses insect or worm predation, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the protein that protects a plant from a pathogen comprises an enzyme. The targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment can be any of the targeting sequences, exosporium proteins, or exosporium protein fragments described herein above.

The fusion protein can be made using standard cloning and molecular biology methods known in the art. For example, a gene encoding a protein or peptide (e.g., a gene encoding a plant growth stimulating protein or peptide) can be amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ligated to DNA coding for any of the above-described targeting sequences to form a DNA molecule that encodes the fusion protein. The DNA molecule encoding the fusion protein can be cloned into any suitable vector, for example a plasmid vector. The vector suitably comprises a multiple cloning site into which the DNA molecule encoding the fusion protein can be easily inserted. The vector also suitably contains a selectable marker, such as an antibiotic resistance gene, such that bacteria transformed, transfected, or mated with the vector can be readily identified and isolated. Where the vector is a plasmid, the plasmid suitably also comprises an origin of replication. The DNA encoding the fusion protein is suitably under the control of a sporulation promoter which will cause expression of the fusion protein on the exosporium of a B. cereus family member endospore (e.g., a native bclA promoter from a B. cereus family member). Alternatively, DNA coding for the fusion protein can be integrated into the chromosomal DNA of the B. cereus family member host.

The fusion protein can also comprise additional polypeptide sequences that are not part of the targeting sequence, exosporium protein, exosporium protein fragment, or the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen, the protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant, or the plant binding protein or peptide. For example, the fusion protein can include tags or markers to facilitate purification or visualization of the fusion protein (e.g., a polyhistidine tag or a fluorescent protein such as GFP or YFP) or visualization of recombinant Bacillus cereus family member spores expressing the fusion protein.

Expression of fusion proteins on the exosporium using the targeting sequences, exosporium proteins, and exosporium protein fragments described herein is enhanced due to a lack of secondary structure in the amino-termini of these sequences, which allows for native folding of the fused proteins and retention of activity. Proper folding can be further enhanced by the inclusion of a short amino acid linker between the targeting sequence, exosporium protein, exosporium protein fragment, and the fusion partner protein.

Thus, any of the fusion proteins described herein can comprise an amino acid linker between the targeting sequence, the exosporium protein, or the exosporium protein fragment and the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen, the protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant, or the plant binding protein or peptide.

The linker can comprise a polyalanine linker or a polyglycine linker. A linker comprising a mixture of both alanine and glycine residues can also be used. For example, where the targeting sequence comprises SEQ ID NO: 1, a fusion protein can have one of the following structures:

No linker: SEQ ID NO: 1—Fusion Partner Protein

Alanine Linker: SEQ ID NO: 1-A_(n)-Fusion Partner Protein

Glycine Linker: SEQ ID NO: 1-G_(n)-Fusion Partner Protein

Mixed Alanine and Glycine Linker: SEQ ID NO: 1—(A/G)_(n)—Fusion Partner Protein where A_(n), G_(n), and (A/G)_(n) are any number of alanines, any number of glycines, or any number of a mixture of alanines and glycines, respectively. For example, n can be 1 to 25, and is preferably 6 to 10. Where the linker comprises a mixture of alanine and glycine residues, any combination of glycine and alanine residues can be used. In the above structures, “Fusion Partner Protein” represents the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen, the protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant, or the plant binding protein or peptide.

Alternatively or in addition, the linker can comprise a protease recognition site. Inclusion of a protease recognition site allows for targeted removal, upon exposure to a protease that recognizes the protease recognition site, of the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen, the protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant, or the plant binding protein or peptide.

Plant Growth Stimulating Proteins and Peptides

As noted above, the present invention relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment and at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, wherein the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a peptide hormone, a non-hormone peptide, or an enzyme involved in the production or activation of a plant growth stimulating compound.

For example, where the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a peptide hormone, the peptide hormone can comprise a phytosulfokine (e.g., phytosulfokine-α), clavata 3 (CLV3), systemin, ZmlGF, or a SCR/SP11.

Where the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a non-hormone peptide, the non-hormone peptide can comprise a RKN 16D10, Hg-Syv46, an eNOD40 peptide, melittin, mastoparan, Mas7, RHPP, POLARIS, or kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI).

The plant growth stimulating protein or peptide can comprise an enzyme involved in the production or activation of a plant growth stimulating compound. The enzyme involved in the production or activation of a plant growth stimulating compound can be any enzyme that catalyzes any step in a biological synthesis pathway for a compound that stimulates plant growth or alters plant structure, or any enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of an inactive or less active derivative of a compound that stimulates plant growth or alters plant structure into an active or more active form of the compound.

The plant growth stimulating compound can comprise a compound produced by bacteria or fungi in the rhizosphere, e.g., 2,3-butanediol.

Alternatively, the plant growth stimulating compound can comprise a plant growth hormone, e.g., a cytokinin or a cytokinin derivative, ethylene, an auxin or an auxin derivative, a gibberellic acid or a gibberellic acid derivative, abscisic acid or an abscisic acid derivative, or a jasmonic acid or a jasmonic acid derivative.

Where the plant growth stimulating compound comprises a cytokinin or a cytokinin derivative, the cytokinin or the cytokinin derivative can comprise kinetin, cis-zeatin, trans-zeatin, 6-benzylaminopurine, dihydroxyzeatin, N6-(D2-isopentenyl) adenine, ribosylzeatin, N6-(D2-isopentenyl) adenosine, 2-methylthio-cis-ribosylzeatin, cis-ribosylzeatin, trans-ribosylzeatin, 2-methylthio-trans-ribosylzeatin, ribosylzeatin-5-monosphosphate, N6-methylaminopurine, N6-dimethylaminopurine, 2′-deoxyzeatin riboside, 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-trans-2-butenylaminopurine, ortho-topolin, meta-topolin, benzyladenine, ortho-methyltopolin, meta-methyltopolin, or a combination thereof.

Where the plant growth stimulating compound comprises an auxin or an auxin derivative, the auxin or the auxin derivative can comprise an active auxin, an inactive auxin, a conjugated auxin, a naturally occurring auxin, or a synthetic auxin, or a combination thereof. For example, the auxin or auxin derivative can comprise indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-pyruvic acid, indole-3-acetaldoxime, indole-3-acetamide, indole-3-acetonitrile, indole-3-ethanol, indole-3-pyruvate, indole-3-acetaldoxime, indole-3-butyric acid, a phenylacetic acid, 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid, a glucose-conjugated auxin, or a combination thereof.

The enzyme involved in the production or activation of a plant growth stimulating compound can comprise an acetoin reductase, an indole-3-acetamide hydrolase, a tryptophan monooxygenase, an acetolactate synthetase, an α-acetolactate decarboxylase, a pyruvate decarboxylase, a diacetyl reductase, a butanediol dehydrogenase, an aminotransferase (e.g., tryptophan aminotransferase), a tryptophan decarboxylase, an amine oxidase, an indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase, an indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, a tryptophan side chain oxidase, a nitrile hydrolase, a nitrilase, a peptidase, a protease, an adenosine phosphate isopentenyltransferase, a phosphatase, an adenosine kinase, an adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, CYP735A, a 5′ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, an adenosine nucleosidase, a zeatin cis-trans isomerase, a zeatin O-glucosyltransferase, a β-glucosidase, a cis-hydroxylase, a CK cis-hydroxylase, a CK N-glucosyltransferase, a 2,5-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, an adenosine nucleosidase, a purine nucleoside phosphorylase, a zeatin reductase, a hydroxylamine reductase, a 2-oxoglutarate dioxygenase, a gibberellic 2B/3B hydrolase, a gibberellin 3-oxidase, a gibberellin 20-oxidase, a chitosinase, a chitinase, a β-1,3-glucanase, a β-1,4-glucanase, a β-1,6-glucanase, an aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase, or an enzyme involved in producing a nod factor (e.g., nodA, nodB, or nodI).

Where the enzyme comprises a protease or peptidase, the protease or peptidase can be a protease or peptidase that cleaves proteins, peptides, proproteins, or preproproteins to create a bioactive peptide. The bioactive peptide can be any peptide that exerts a biological activity.

Examples of bioactive peptides include RKN 16D10 and RHPP.

The protease or peptidase that cleaves proteins, peptides, proproteins, or preproproteins to create a bioactive peptide can comprise subtilisin, an acid protease, an alkaline protease, a proteinase, an endopeptidase, an exopeptidase, thermolysin, papain, pepsin, trypsin, pronase, a carboxylase, a serine protease, a glutamic protease, an aspartate protease, a cysteine protease, a threonine protease, or a metalloprotease.

The protease or peptidase can cleave proteins in a protein-rich meal (e.g., soybean meal or yeast extract).

Proteins and Peptides that Protects Plants from Pathogens

The present invention relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment, and at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen.

The protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen can comprise a protein or peptide that stimulates a plant immune response. For example, the protein or peptide that stimulates a plant immune response can comprise a plant immune system enhancer protein or peptide. The plant immune system enhancer protein or peptide can be any protein or peptide that has a beneficial effect on the immune system of a plant. Suitable plant immune system enhancer proteins and peptides include harpins, α-elastins, β-elastins, systemins, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, elicitins, defensins, cryptogeins, flagellin proteins, and flagellin peptides (e.g., flg22).

Alternatively, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen can be a protein or peptide that has antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, or both antibacterial and antifungal activity. Examples of such proteins and peptides include bacteriocins, lysozymes, lysozyme peptides (e.g., LysM), siderophores, non-ribosomal active peptides, conalbumins, albumins, lactoferrins, lactoferrin peptides (e.g., LfcinB), and TasA.

The protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen can also be a protein or peptide that has insecticidal activity, helminthicidal activity, suppresses insect or worm predation, or a combination thereof. For example, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen can comprise an insecticidal bacterial toxin (e.g., a VIP insecticidal protein), an endotoxin, a Cry toxin (e.g., a Cry toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis), a protease inhibitor protein or peptide (e.g., a trypsin inhibitor or an arrowhead protease inhibitor), a cysteine protease, or a chitinase. Where the Cry toxin is a Cry toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis, the Cry toxin can be a Cry5B protein or a Cry21A protein. Cry5B and Cry21A have both insecticidal and nematocidal activity.

The protein that protects a plant from a pathogen can comprise an enzyme. Suitable enzymes include proteases and lactonases. The proteases and lactonases can be specific for a bacterial signaling molecule (e.g., a bacterial lactone homoserine signaling molecule).

Where the enzyme is a lactonase, the lactonase can comprise 1,4-lactonase, 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylate lactonase, 3-oxoadipate enol-lactonase, actinomycin lactonase, deoxylimonate A-ring-lactonase, gluconolactonase L-rhamnono-1,4-lactonase, limonin-D-ring-lactonase, steroid-lactonase, triacetate-lactonase, or xylono-1,4-lactonase.

The enzyme can also be an enzyme that is specific for a cellular component of a bacterium or fungus. For example, the enzyme can comprise a β-1,3-glucanase, a β-1,4-glucanase, a β-1,6-glucanase, a chitosinase, a chitinase, a chitosinase-like enzyme, a lyticase, a peptidase, a proteinase, a protease (e.g., an alkaline protease, an acid protease, or a neutral protease), a mutanolysin, a stapholysin, or a lysozyme.

For any of the above fusion proteins comprising a protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen, the pathogen can be a bacterial pathogen or a fungal pathogen. For example, the pathogen can comprise an α-class Proteobacterium, a β-class Proteobacterium, a γ-class Proteobacterium, or a combination thereof. Particular bacterial pathogens include Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Pantoea stewartii, Erwinia carotovora, Ralstonia solanacearum, Pseudomonas syringae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Xanthomonas campestris, and combinations thereof.

Other bacterial and fungal pathogens include Acarosporina microspora, Aceria guerreronis, Achlya conspicua, Achlya klebsiana, Achlysiella williamsi, Acholeplasmataceae, Acidovorax avenae, Acremonium strictum, Acrocalymma medicaginis, Acrodontium simplex, Acrophialophora fusispora, Acrosporium tingitaninum, Aecidium, Aecidium aechmantherae, Aecidium amaryllidis, Aecidium breyniae, Aecidium campanulastri, Aecidium cannabis, Aecidium cantensis, Aecidium caspicum, Aecidiumfoeniculi, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Albonectria rigidiuscula, Albugo bliti, Albugo candida, Albugo ipomoeae-panduratae, Albugo laibachii, Albugo occidentalis, Albugo tragopogonis, Alternaria, Alternaria alternata, Alternaria brassicae, Alternaria brassicicola, Alternaria carthami, Alternaria cinerariae, Alternaria citri, Alternaria dauci, Alternaria dianthi, Alternaria dianthicola, Alternaria euphorbiicola, Alternaria helianthi, Alternaria helianthicola, Alternaria japonica, Alternaria leucanthemi, Alternaria limicola, Alternaria linicola, Alternaria mali, Alternaria padwickii, Alternaria panax, Alternaria radicina, Alternaria raphani, Alternaria saponariae, Alternaria senecionis, Alternaria solani, Alternaria tenuissima, Alternaria triticina, Alternaria zinniae, Amazonia, Amphobotrys ricini, Anguillosporella vermiformis, Anguina (genus), Anguina agrostis, Anguina amsinckiae, Anguina australis, Anguina balsamophila, Anguinafunesta, Anguina graminis, Anguina spermophaga, Anguina tritici, Anisogramma anomala, Anthostomella pullulans, Antrodia albida, Antrodia serialiformis, Antrodia serialis, Aphanomyces cladogamus, Aphanomyces cochlioides, Aphanomyces euteiches, Aphanomyces euteiches f.sp. pisi, Aphanomyces raphani, Aphelenchoides, Aphelenchoides arachidis, Aphelenchoides besseyi, Aphelenchoides fragariae, Aphelenchoides parietinus, Aphelenchoides ritzemabosi, Aphelenchus avenae, Apiognomonia errabunda, Apiognomonia veneta, Apiospora montagnei, Appendiculella, Armillaria, Armillaria affinis, Armillaria apalosclera, Armillaria camerunensis, Armillaria duplicate, Armillaria fellea, Armillaria fumosa, Armillaria fuscipes, Armillaria griseomellea, Armillaria heimii, Armillaria mellea, Armillaria melleorubens, Armillaria montagnei, Armillaria omnituens, Armillaria pallidula, Armillaria paulensis, Armillaria pelliculata, Armillaria procera, Armillaria puiggarii, Armillaria singular, Armillaria socialis, Armillaria solidipes, Armillaria tabescens, Armillaria tigrensis, Armillaria umbrinobrunnea, Armillaria viridiflava, Armillaria yungensis, Arthrocladiella, Arthuriomyces peckianus, Ascochyta asparagine, Ascochyta bohemica, Ascochyta caricae, Ascochyta doronici, Ascochyta fabae f.sp. lentis, Ascochyta graminea, Ascochyta hordei, Ascochyta humuli, Ascochyta pisi, Ascochyta prasadii, Ascochyta sorghi, Ascochyta spinaciae, Ascochyta tarda, Ascochyta tritici, Ascospora ruborum, Ashbya gossypii, Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus fischerianus, Aspergillus niger, Asperisporium caricae, Asperisporium minutulum, Asteridiella, Asteridiella perseae, Asteroma caryae, Asteroma coryli, Asteroma inconspicuum, Athelia arachnoidea, Athelia rolfsii, Aurantiporus fissilis, Belonolaimus, Belonolaimus gracilis, Belonolaimus longicaudatus, Beniowskia sphaeroidea, Bionectria ochroleuca, Bipolaris, Bipolaris cactivora, Bipolaris cookie, Bipolaris incurvata, Bipolaris sacchari, Biscogniauxia capnodes var. capnodes, Biscogniauxia marginata, Biscogniauxia nummularia, Bjerkandera adusta, Blakeslea trispora, Blumeria graminis, Botryodiplodia oncidii, Botryodiplodia ulmicola, Botryosphaeria cocogena, Botryosphaeria corticola, Botryosphaeria disrupta, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Botryosphaeria marconii, Botryosphaeria obtuse, Botryosphaeria quercuum, Botryosphaeria rhodina, Botryosphaeria ribis, Botryosphaeria stevensii, Botryosporium pulchrum, Botryotinia, Botryotinia fuckeliana, Botrytis anthophila, Botrytis cinerea, Botrytis fabae, Bremia lactucae, Brenneria salicis, Briosia ampelophaga, Bulbomicrosphaera, Burkholderia andropogonis, Burkholderia caryophylli, Burkholderia glumae, Cadophora malorum, Caespitotheca, Calonectria indusiata, Calonectria kyotensis, Calonectria quinqueseptata, Calvatia versispora, Camarosporium pistaciae, Camarotella acrocomiae, Camarotella costaricensis, Candidatus Liberibacter, Capitorostrum cocoes, Capnodiumfootii, Capnodium mangiferum, Capnodium ramosum, Capnodium theae, Caulimoviridae, Cephaleuros virescens, Cephalosporium gramineum, Ceratobasidium cereal, Ceratobasidium cornigerum, Ceratobasidium noxium, Ceratobasidium ramicola, Ceratobasidium setariae, Ceratobasidium stevensii, Ceratocystis adiposa, Ceratocystis coerulescens, Ceratocystis fimbriata, Ceratocystis moniliformis, Ceratocystis paradoxa, Ceratocystis pilifera, Ceratocystis pluriannulata, Ceratorhiza hydrophila, Ceratospermopsis, Cercoseptoria ocellata, Cercospora, Cercospora angreci, Cercospora apii, Cercospora apii f.sp. clerodendri, Cercospora apiicola, Cercospora arachidicola, Cercospora asparagi, Cercospora atrofiliformis, Cercospora beticola, Cercospora brachypus, Cercospora brassicicola, Cercospora brunkii, Cercospora cannabis, Cercospora cantuariensis, Cercospora capsici, Cercospora carotae, Cercospora corylina, Cercospora fragariae, Cercospora fuchsiae, Cercospora fusca, Cercospora fusimaculans, Cercospora gerberae, Cercospora halstedii, Cercospora handelii, Cercospora hayi, Cercospora hydrangea, Cercospora kikuchii, Cercospora lentis, Cercospora liquidambaris, Cercospora longipes, Cercospora longissima, Cercospora mamaonis, Cercospora mangiferae, Cercospora medicaginis, Cercospora melongenae, Cercospora minima, Cercospora minuta, Cercospora nicotianae, Cercospora odontoglossi, Cercospora papaya, Cercospora penniseti, Cercospora pisa-sativae, Cercospora platanicola, Cercospora puderii, Cercospora pulcherrima, Cercospora rhapidicola, Cercospora rosicola, Cercospora rubrotincta, Cercospora sojina, Cercospora solani, Cercospora solani-tuberosi, Cercospora sorghi, Cercospora theae, Cercospora tuberculans, Cercospora vexans, Cercospora vicosae, Cercospora zeae-maydis, Cercospora zebrina, Cercospora zonata, Cercosporella rubi, Cereal cyst nematode, Ceriporia spissa, Ceriporia xylostromatoides, Cerrena unicolor, Ceuthospora lauri, Choanephora, Choanephora cucurbitarum, Choanephora infundibulifera, Chondrostereum purpureum, Chrysomyxa ledi var. rhododendri, Chrysomyxa ledicola, Chrysomyxa piperiana, Chrysomyxa roanensis, Cladosporium, Cladosporium arthropodii, Cladosporium caryigenum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cladosporium cladosporioides f.sp. pisicola, Cladosporium cucumerinum, Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium musae, Cladosporium oncobae, Clavibacter michiganensis, Claviceps fusiformis, Claviceps purpurea, Claviceps sorghi, Claviceps zizaniae, Climacodon pulcherrimus, Climacodon septentrionalis, Clitocybe parasitica, Clonostachys rosea f. rosea, Clypeoporthe iliau, Cochliobolus, Cochliobolus carbonum, Cochliobolus cymbopogonis, Cochliobolus hawaiiensis, Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Cochliobolus lunatus, Cochliobolus miyabeanus, Cochliobolus ravenelii, Cochliobolus sativus, Cochliobolus setariae, Cochliobolus spicifer, Cochliobolus stenospilus, Cochliobolus tuberculatus, Cochliobolus victoriae, Coleosporium helianthi, Coleosporium ipomoeae, Coleosporium madiae, Coleosporium pacificum, Coleosporium tussilaginis, Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum arachidis, Colletotrichum capsici, Colletotrichum cereale, Colletotrichum crassipes, Colletotrichum dematium, Colletotrichum dematium f. spinaciae, Colletotrichum derridis, Colletotrichum destructivum, Colletotrichum fragariae, Colletotrichum gossypii, Colletotrichum higginsianum, Colletotrichum kahawae, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, Colletotrichum lini, Colletotrichum mangenotii, Colletotrichum musae, Colletotrichum nigrum, Colletotrichum orbiculare, Colletotrichum pisi, Colletotrichum sublineolum, Colletotrichum trichellum, Colletotrichum trifolii, Colletotrichum truncatum, Coniella castaneicola, Coniella diplodiella, Coniella fragariae, Coniothecium chomatosporum, Coniothyrium celtidis-australis, Coniothyrium henriquesii, Coniothyrium rosarum, Coniothyrium wernsdorffiae, Coprinopsis psychromorbida, Cordana johnstonii, Cordana musae, Coriolopsis floccose, Coriolopsis gallica, Corticium invisum, Corticium penicillatum, Corticium theae, Coryneopsis rubi, Corynespora cassiicola, Coryneum rhododendri, Crinipellis sarmentosa, Cronartium ribicola, Cryphonectriaceae, Cryptocline cyclaminis, Cryptomeliola, Cryptoporus volvatus, Cryptosporella umbrina, Cryptosporiopsis tarraconensis, Cryptosporium minimum, Curvularia caricae-papayae, Curvularia penniseti, Curvularia senegalensis, Curvularia trifolii, Cylindrocarpon candidum, Cylindrocarpon ianthothele var. ianthothele, Cylindrocarpon magnusianum, Cylindrocarpon musae, Cylindrocladiella camelliae, Cylindrocladiella parva, Cylindrocladium clavatum, Cylindrocladium lanceolatum, Cylindrocladium peruvianum, Cylindrocladium pteridis, Cylindrosporium cannabinum, Cylindrosporium juglandis, Cylindrosporium rubi, Cymadothea trifolii, Cytospora, Cytospora palmarum, Cytospora personata, Cytospora platani, Cytospora sacchari, Cytospora sacculus, Cytospora terebinthi, Cytosporina ludibunda, Dactuliophora elongata, Daedaleopsis confragosa, Dasineura urticae, Datronia scutellata, Davidiella carinthiaca, Davidiella dianthi, Davidiella tassiana, Deightoniella papuana, Deightoniella torulosa, Dendrophoma marconii, Dendrophora erumpens, Denticularia mangiferae, Dermea pseudotsugae, Diaporthaceae, Diaporthe, Diaporthe arctii, Diaporthe citri, Diaporthe dulcamarae, Diaporthe eres, Diaporthe helianthi, Diaporthe lagunensis, Diaporthe lokoyae, Diaporthe melonis, Diaporthe orthoceras, Diaporthe perniciosa, Diaporthe phaseolorum, Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora, Diaporthe phaseolorum var. phaseolorum, Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae, Diaporthe rudis, Diaporthe tanakae, Diaporthe toxica, Dibotryon morbosum, Dicarpella dryina, Didymella bryoniae, Didymella fabae, Didymella lycopersici, Didymosphaeria arachidicola, Didymosphaeria taiwanensis, Dilophospora alopecuri, Dimeriella sacchari, Diplocarpon earlianum, Diplocarpon mali, Diplocarpon mespili, Diplocarpon rosae, Diplodia laelio-cattleyae, Diplodia manihoti, Diplodia paraphysaria, Diplodia theae-sinensis, Discosia artocreas, Guignardia fulvida, Discostroma corticola, Distocercospora, Distocercospora livistonae, Ditylenchus, Ditylenchus africanus, Ditylenchus angustus, Ditylenchus destructor, Ditylenchus dipsaci, Dolichodorus heterocephalus, Dothideomycetes, Dothiorella aromatic, Dothiorella dominicana, Dothiorella gregaria, Dothiorella ulmi, Drechslera avenacea, Drechslera campanulata, Drechslera dematioidea, Drechslera gigantea, Drechslera glycines, Drechslera musae-sapientium, Drechslera teres f. maculate, Drechslera wirreganensis, Durandiella pseudotsugae, Eballistra lineata, Eballistra oryzae, Eballistraceae, Echinodontium tinctorium, Ectendomeliola, Elsinoë ampelina, Elsinoë australis, Elsinoë batatas, Elsinoë brasiliensis, Elsinoë fawcettii, Elsinoë leucospila, Elsinoë mangiferae, Elsinoë piri, Elsinoë randii, Elsinoë rosarum, Elsinoë sacchari, Elsinoë theae, Elsino veneta, Endomeliola, Endothia radicalis, Endothiella gyrosa, Entoleuca mammata, Entorrhizomycetes, Entyloma ageratinae, Entyloma dahlia, Entyloma ellisii, Epicoccum nigrum, Ergot, Erwinia, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Erwinia psidii, Erysiphaceae, Erysiphales, Erysiphe, Erysiphe alphitoides, Erysiphe betae, Erysiphe brunneopunctata, Erysiphe cichoracearum, Erysiphe cruciferarum, Erysiphe flexuosa, Erysiphe graminis f. sp. avenae, Erysiphe graminis f.sp. tritici, Erysiphe heraclei, Erysiphe pisi, Eutypella parasitica, Eutypella scoparia, Exobasidium burtii, Exobasidium reticulatum, Exobasidium vaccinii var. japonicum, Exobasidium vaccinii-uliginosi, Exobasidium vexans, Exophiala, Flavescence doree, Fomes fasciatus, Fomes lamaensis, Fomes meliae, Fomitopsis cajanderi, Fomitopsis palustris, Fomitopsis rosea, Fomitopsis spraguei, Fomitopsis supina, Forma specialis, Frommeella tormentillae, Fusarium, Fusarium affine, Fusarium arthrosporioides, Fusarium circinatum, Fusarium crookwellense, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium incarnatum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium merismoides, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. asparagi, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. batatas, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. betae, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cannabis, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. citri, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. coffea, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cyclaminis, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lentis, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lini, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. medicaginis, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. pisi, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici, Fusarium pallidoroseum, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium redolens, Fusarium sacchari, Fusarium solani f.sp. pisi, Fusarium sporotrichioides, Fusarium subglutinans, Fusarium sulphureum, Fuscoporia torulosa, Fusicladium pisicola, Fusicoccum aesculi, Fusicoccum amygdali, Gaeumannomyces graminis var tritici, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. avenae, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis, Galactomyces candidum, Ganoderma brownii, Ganoderma lobatum, Ganoderma orbiforme, Ganoderma philippii, Ganoderma tornatum, Ganoderma zonatum, Geastrumia polystigmatis, Georgefischeriaceae, Georgefischeriales, Geosmithia morbida, Geotrichum, Geotrichum candidum, Geotrichum candidum var. citri-aurantii, Geotrichum klebahnii, Gibberella, Gibberella acuminata, Gibberella avenacea, Gibberella baccata, Gibberella cyanogena, Gibberella fujikuroi, Gibberella fujikuroi var. subglutinans, Gibberella intricans, Gibberella pulicaris, Gibberella stilboides, Gibberella xylarioides, Gibberella zeae, Gibellina cerealis, Gilbertella persicaria, Gjaerumiaceae, Gliocladium vermoeseni, Globodera pallida, Globodera rostochiensis, Globodera tabacum, Gloeocercospora sorghi, Gloeocystidiellum porosum, Gloeophyllum mexicanum, Gloeophyllum trabeum, Gloeoporus dichrous, Gloeosporium cattleyae, Gloeosporium theae-sinensis, Glomerella cingulate, Glomerella glycines, Glomerella graminicola, Glomerella tucumanensis, Gnomonia caryae, Gnomonia comari, Gnomonia dispora, Gnomonia iliau, Gnomonia leptostyla, Gnomonia nerviseda, Gnomonia rubi, Golovinomyces cichoracearum var. latisporus, Granulobasidium vellereum, Graphiola phoenicis, Graphium rigidum, Graphium rubrum, Graphyllium pentamerum, Grovesinia pyramidalis, Guignardia bidwellii f. muscadinii, Guignardia camelliae, Guignardia citricarpa, Guignardia mangiferae, Guignardia musae, Guignardia philoprina, Gummosis, Gymnoconia nitens, Gymnopus dryophilus, Gymnosporangium clavipes, Gymnosporangium sabinae, Gymnosporangium globosum, Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae, Gymnosporangium kernianum, Gymnosporangium nelsonii, Gymnosporangium yamadae, Haematonectria haematococca, Hansenula subpelliculosa, Hapalosphaeria deformans, Haplobasidion musae, Haustorium, Helicobasidium compactum, Helicobasidium longisporum, Helicobasidium purpureum, Helicoma muelleri, Helicotylenchus, Helicotylenchus dihystera, Helicotylenchus multicinctus, Helminthosporium cookei, Helminthosporium papulosum, Helminthosporium solani, Helotiales, Hemicriconemoides kanayaensis, Hemicriconemoides mangiferae, Hemicycliophora arenaria, Hemlock woolly adelgid, Hendersonia creberrima, Hendersonia theicola, Hericium coralloides, Heterobasidion annosum, Heterodera, Heterodera amygdali, Heterodera arenaria, Heterodera aucklandica, Heterodera avenae, Heterodera bergeniae, Heterodera bifenestra, Heterodera cacti, Heterodera cajani, Heterodera canadensis, Heterodera cardiolata, Heterodera carotae, Heterodera ciceri, Heterodera cruciferae, Heterodera delvii, Heterodera elachista, Heterodera filipjevi, Heterodera gambiensis, Heterodera goettingiana, Heterodera hordecalis, Heterodera humuli, Heterodera latipons, Heterodera medicaginis, Heterodera oryzae, Heterodera oryzicola, Heterodera rosii, Heterodera sacchari, Heterodera schachtii, Heterodera tabacum, Heterodera trifolii, Heteroderidae, Hexagonia hydnoides, Hirschmanniella oryzae, Hoplalaimus galeatus, Hoplolaimidae, Hoplolaimus columbus, Hoplolaimus indicus, Hoplolaimus magnistylus, Hoplolaimus pararobustus, Hoplolaimus seinhorsti, Hoplolaimus uniformis, Huanglongbing, Hyaloperonospora, Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis, Hyaloperonospora brassicae, Hyaloperonospora parasitica, Hymenula affinis, Hyphodermella corrugata, Hyphodontia aspera, Hyphodontia sambuci, Hypochnus, Hypoxylon tinctor, Idriella lunata, Inonotus arizonicus, Inonotus cuticularis, Inonotus dryophilus, Inonotus hispidus, Inonotus ludovicianus, Inonotus munzii, Inonotus tamaricis, Irenopsis, Irpex destruens, Irpex lacteus, Isariopsis clavispora, Johncouchia mangiferae, Kabatiella caulivora, Kabatiella lini, Karnal bunt, Khuskia oryzae, Kretzschmaria deusta, Kretzschmaria zonata, Kuehneola uredinis, Kutilakesa pironii, Labrella coryli, Laeticorticium roseum, Laetiporus baudonii, Lagenocystis radicicola, Laricifomes officinalis, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Leandria momordicae, Leifsonia xyli xyli, Lentinus tigrinus, Lenzites betulina, Lenzites elegans, Lepteutypa cupressi, Leptodontidium elatius var. elatius, Leptographium microsporum, Leptosphaeria acuta, Leptosphaeria cannabina, Leptosphaeria coniothyrium, Leptosphaeria libanotis, Leptosphaeria lindquistii, Leptosphaeria maculans, Leptosphaeria musarum, Leptosphaeria pratensis, Leptosphaeria sacchari, Leptosphaeria woroninii, Leptosphaerulina crassiasca, Leptosphaerulina trifolii, Leptothyrium nervisedum, Leptotrochila medicaginis, Leucocytospora leucostoma, Leucostoma auerswaldii, Leucostoma kunzei, Leucostoma persoonii, Leveillula compositarumf helianthi, Leveillula leguminosarumf lentis, Leveillula taurica, Ligniera pilorum, Limacinula tenuis, Linochora graminis, Longidorus africanus, Longidorus maximus, Longidorus sylphus, Lopharia crassa, Lophodermium, Lophodermium aucupariae, Lophodermium schweinitzii, Lophodermium seditiosum, Macrophoma mangiferae, Macrophoma theicola, Macrophomina phaseolina, Macrosporium cocos, Magnaporthe, Magnaporthe grisea, Magnaporthe salvinii, Mamianiella coryli, Marasmiellus cocophilus, Marasmiellus inoderma, Marasmiellus scandens, Marasmiellus stenophyllus, Marasmius crinis-equi, Marasmius sacchari, Marasmius semiustus, Marasmius stenophyllus, Marasmius tenuissimus, Massarina walkeri, Mauginiella scaettae, Melampsora, Melampsora lini var. lini, Melampsora medusae, Melampsora occidentalis, Melanconis carthusiana, Melanconium juglandinum, Meliola, Meliola mangiferae, Meliolaceae, Meloidogyne acronea, Meloidogyne arenaria, Meloidogyne artiellia, Meloidogyne brevicauda, Meloidogyne chitwoodi, Meloidogyne enterolobii, Meloidogyne fruglia, Meloidogyne gajuscus, Meloidogyne incognita, Meloidogyne javanica, Meloidogyne naasi, Meloidogyne partityla, Meloidogyne thamesi, Meripilus giganteus, Merlinius brevidens, Meruliopsis ambigua, Mesocriconema xenoplax, Microascus brevicaulis, Microbotryum violaceum, Microdochium bolleyi, Microdochium dimerum, Microdochium panattonianum, Microdochium phragmitis, Microsphaera, Microsphaera coryli, Microsphaera diffusa, Microsphaera ellisii, Microsphaera euphorbiae, Microsphaera hommae, Microsphaera penicillata, Microsphaera penicillata var. vaccinii, Microsphaera vaccinii, Microsphaera verruculosa, Microstroma juglandis, Moesziomyces bullatus, Monilinia azaleae, Monilinia fructicola, Monilinia fructigena, Monilinia laxa, Monilinia mali, Moniliophthora perniciosa, Moniliophthora roreri, Monilochaetes infuscans, Monochaetia coryli, Monochaetia mali, Monographella albescens, Monographella cucumerina, Monographella nivalis var. neglecta, Monographella nivalis var. nivalis, Mononegavirales, Monosporascus cannonballus, Monosporascus eutypoides, Monostichella coryli, Mucor circinelloides, Mucor hiemalis, Mucor hiemalis f. silvaticus, Mucor mucedo, Mucor paronychius, Mucor piriformis, Mucor racemosus, Mycena citricolor, Mycena maculate, Mycocentrospora acerina, Mycoleptodiscus terrestris, Mycosphaerella angulata, Mycosphaerella arachidis, Mycosphaerella areola, Mycosphaerella berkeleyi, Mycosphaerella bolleana, Mycosphaerella brassicicola, Mycosphaerella caricae, Mycosphaerella caryigena, Mycosphaerella cerasella, Mycosphaerella citri, Mycosphaerella coffeicola, Mycosphaerella confusa, Mycosphaerella cruenta, Mycosphaerella dendroides, Mycosphaerella eumusae, Mycosphaerella fragariae, Mycosphaerella gossypina, Mycosphaerella graminicola, Mycosphaerella henningsii, Mycosphaerella horii, Mycosphaerella juglandis, Mycosphaerella lageniformis, Mycosphaerella linicola, Mycosphaerella louisianae, Mycosphaerella musae, Mycosphaerella musicola, Mycosphaerella palmicola, Mycosphaerella pinodes, Mycosphaerella pistaciarum, Mycosphaerella pistacina, Mycosphaerella platanifolia, Mycosphaerella polymorpha, Mycosphaerella pomi, Mycosphaerella punctiformis, Mycosphaerella pyri, Didymella rabiei, Mycosphaerella recutita, Mycosphaerella rosicola, Mycosphaerella rubi, Mycosphaerella stigmina-platani, Mycosphaerella striatiformans, Mycovellosiella concors, Mycovellosiella fulva, Mycovellosiella koepkei, Mycovellosiella vaginae, Myriogenospora aciculispora, Myrothecium roridum, Myrothecium verrucaria, Nacobbus aberrans, Nacobbus dorsalis, Naevala perexigua, Naohidemyces vaccinii, Nectria, Nectria cinnabarina, Nectria coccinea, Nectria ditissima, ectria foliicola, Nectria mammoidea var. rubi, Nectria mauritiicola, Nectria peziza, Nectria pseudotrichia, Nectria radicicola, Nectria ramulariae, Nectriella pironii, Nemania diffusa, Nemania serpens var. serpens, Nematospora coryli, Neocosmospora vasinfecta, Neodeightonia phoenicum, Neoerysiphe, Neofabraea malicorticis, Neofabraea perennans, Neofusicoccum mangiferae, Neonectria galligena, Oidiopsis gossypii, Oidium (genus), Oidium arachidis, Oidium caricae-papayae, Oidium indicum, Oidium mangiferae, Oidium manihotis, Oidium tingitaninum, Olpidium brassicae, Omphalia tralucida, Oncobasidium theobromae, Onnia tomentosa, Ophiobolus anguillides, Ophiobolus cannabinus, Ophioirenina, Ophiostoma ulmi, Ophiostoma wageneri, Ovulariopsis papayae, Ovulinia azaleae, Ovulitis azaleae, Oxyporus corticola, Oxyporus latemarginatus, Oxyporus populinus, Oxyporus similis, Ozonium texanum var. parasiticum, Paecilomyces fulvus, Paralongidorus maximus, Paratrichodorus christiei, Paratrichodorus minor, Paratylenchus curvitatus, Paratylenchus elachistus, Paratylenchus hamatus, Paratylenchus macrophallus, Paratylenchus microdorus, Paratylenchus projectus, Paratylenchus tenuicaudatus, Pathovar, Pauahia, Peach latent mosaic viroid, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Peltaster fructicola, Penicillium aurantiogriseum, Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium glabrum, Penicillium italicum, Penicillium purpurogenum, Penicillium ulaiense, Peniophora, Peniophora albobadia, Peniophora cinerea, Peniophora quercina, Peniophora sacrata, Perenniporia fraxinea, Perenniporia fraxinophila, Perenniporia medulla-panis, Perenniporia subacida, Periconia circinata, Periconiella cocoes, Peridermium californicum, Peronosclerospora miscanthi, Peronosclerospora sacchari, Peronosclerospora sorghi, Peronospora, Peronospora anemones, Peronospora antirrhini, Peronospora arborescens, Peronospora conglomerata, Peronospora destructor, Peronospora dianthi, Peronospora dianthicola, Peronospora farinosa, Peronospora farinosa f.sp. betae, Peronospora hyoscyami f.sp. tabacina, Peronospora manshurica, Peronospora potentillae, Peronospora sparsa, Peronospora trifoliorum, Peronospora valerianellae, Peronospora viciae, Pestalosphaeria concentrica, Pestalotia longiseta, Pestalotia longisetula, Pestalotia rhododendri, Pestalotiopsis, Pestalotiopsis adusta, Pestalotiopsis arachidis, Pestalotiopsis disseminata, Pestalotiopsis guepini, Pestalotiopsis leprogena, Pestalotiopsis longiseta, Pestalotiopsis mangiferae, Pestalotiopsis palmarum, Pestalotiopsis sydowiana, Pestalotiopsis theae, Pestalotiopsis versicolor, Phacidiopycnis padwickii, Phacidium infestans, Phaeochoropsis mucosa, Phaeocytostroma iliau, Phaeocytostroma sacchari, Phaeoisariopsis bataticola, Phaeolus schweinitzii, Phaeoramularia angolensis, Phaeoramularia dissiliens, Phaeoramularia heterospora, Phaeoramularia manihotis, Phaeoseptoria musae, Phaeosphaerella mangiferae, Phaeosphaerella theae, Phaeosphaeria avenaria f.sp. avenaria, Phaeosphaeria avenaria f.sp. triticae, Phaeosphaeria herpotrichoides, Phaeosphaeria microscopica, Phaeosphaeria nodorum, Phaeosphaeriopsis obtusispora, Phaeotrichoconis crotalariae, Phakopsora gossypii, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phanerochaete allantospora, Phanerochaete arizonica, Phanerochaete avellanea, Phanerochaete burtii, Phanerochaete carnosa, Phanerochaete chrysorhizon, Phanerochaete radicata, Phanerochaete salmonicolor, Phanerochaete tuberculata, Phanerochaete velutina, Phellinus ferreus, Phellinus gilvus, Phellinus igniarius, Phellinus pini, Phellinus pomaceus, Phellinus weirii, Phialophora asteris, Phialophora cinerescens, Phialophora gregata, Phialophora tracheiphila, Phloeospora multimaculans, Pholiota variicystis, Phoma, Phoma caricae-papayae, Phoma clematidina, Phoma costaricensis, Phoma cucurbitacearum, Phoma destructiva, Phoma draconis, Phoma eupyrena, Phoma exigua, Phoma exigua var. exigua, Phoma exigua var. foveata, Phoma exigua var. linicola, Phoma glomerata, Phoma glycinicola, Phoma herbarum, Phoma insidiosa, Phoma medicaginis, Phoma microspora, Phoma nebulosa, Phoma oncidii-sphacelati, Phoma pinodella, Phoma scabra, Phoma sclerotioides, Phoma strasseri, Phoma tracheiphila, Phomopsis arnoldiae, Phomopsis asparagi, Phomopsis asparagicola, Phomopsis azadirachtae, Phomopsis cannabina, Phomopsis caricae-papayae, Phomopsis coffeae, Phomopsis elaeagni, Phomopsis ganjae, Phomopsis javanica, Phomopsis lokoyae, Phomopsis mangiferae, Phomopsis obscurans, Phomopsis perseae, Phomopsis prunorum, Phomopsis scabra, Phomopsis sclerotioides, Phomopsis tanakae, Phomopsis theae, Photoassimilate, Phragmidium, Phragmidium mucronatum, Phragmidium rosae-pimpinellifoliae, Phragmidium rubi-idaei, Phragmidium violaceum, Phyllachora cannabis, Phyllachora graminis var. graminis, Phyllachora gratissima, Phyllachora musicola, Phyllachora pomigena, Phyllachora sacchari, Phyllactinia, Phyllactinia angulata, Phyllactinia guttata, Phyllody, Phyllosticta, Phyllosticta alliariaefoliae, Phyllosticta anacardiacearum, Phyllosticta arachidis-hypogaeae, Phyllosticta batatas, Phyllosticta capitalensis, Phyllosticta caricae-papayae, Phyllosticta carpogena, Phyllosticta circumscissa, Phyllosticta coffeicola, Phyllosticta concentrica, Phyllosticta coryli, Phyllosticta cucurbitacearum, Phyllosticta cyclaminella, Phyllosticta erratica, Phyllosticta hawaiiensis, Phyllosticta lentisci, Phyllosticta manihotis, Phyllosticta micropuncta, Phyllosticta mortonii, Phyllosticta nicotianae, Phyllosticta palmetto, Phyllosticta penicillariae, Phyllosticta perseae, Phyllosticta platani, Phyllosticta pseudocapsici, Phyllosticta sojaecola, Phyllosticta solitaria, Phyllosticta theae, Phyllosticta theicola, Phymatotrichopsis omnivora, Physalospora abdita, Physalospora disrupta, Physalospora perseae, Physarum cinereum, Physoderma alfalfae, Physoderma leproides, Physoderma trifolii, Physopella ampelopsidis, Phytophthora, Phytophthora alni, Phytophthora boehmeriae, Phytophthora cactorum, Phytophthora cajani, Phytophthora cambivora, Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora citrophthora, Phytophthora cryptogea, Phytophthora drechsleri, Phytophthora erythroseptica, Phytophthora fragariae, Phytophthora fragariae var. rubi, Phytophthora gallica, Phytophthora hibernalis, Phytophthora infestans, Phytophthora inflata, Phytophthora iranica, Phytophthora katsurae, Phytophthora kernoviae, Phytophthora lateralis, Phytophthora medicaginis, Phytophthora megakarya, Phytophthora megasperma, Phytophthora nicotianae, Phytophthora palmivora, Phytophthora phaseoli, Phytophthora plurivora, Phytophthora ramorum, Phytophthora sojae, Phytophthora syringae, Phytophthora tentaculata, Phytoplasma, Pichia membranifaciens, Pichia subpelliculosa, Pileolaria terebinthi, Pilidiella quercicola, Plasmodiophora brassicae, Plasmopara, Plasmopara halstedii, Plasmopara helianthi f. helianthi, Plasmopara lactucae-radicis, Plasmopara nivea, Plasmopara obducens, Plasmopara penniseti, Plasmopara pygmaea, Plasmopara viticola, Platychora ulmi, Plenodomus destruens, Plenodomus meliloti, Pleochaeta, Pleosphaerulina sojicola, Pleospora alfalfae, Pleospora betae, Pleospora herbarum, Pleospora lycopersici, Pleospora tarda, Pleospora theae, Pleurotus dryinus, Podosphaera, Podosphaera clandestina var. clandestine, Podosphaera fusca, Podosphaera leucotricha, Podosphaera macularis, Podosphaera pannosa, Podosphaera tridactyla, Podosphaera tridactyla var. tridactyla, Podosphaera xanthii, Polymyxa graminis, Polyscytalum pustulans, Polystigma fulvum, Poria hypobrunnea, Postia tephroleuca, Potato cyst nematode, Pratylenchus alleni, Pratylenchus brachyurus, Pratylenchus coffeae, Pratylenchus crenatus, Pratylenchus dulscus, Pratylenchus fallax, Pratylenchus flakkensis, Pratylenchus goodeyi, Pratylenchus hexincisus, Pratylenchus loosi, Pratylenchus minutus, Pratylenchus mulchandi, Pratylenchus musicola, Pratylenchus neglectus, Pratylenchus penetrans, Pratylenchus pratensis, Pratylenchus reniformia, Pratylenchus scribneri, Pratylenchus thornei, Pratylenchus vulnus, Pratylenchus zeae, Pseudocercospora, Pseudocercospora arecacearum, Pseudocercospora cannabina, Pseudocercospora fuligena, Pseudocercospora gunnerae, Pseudocercospora kaki, Pseudocercospora mali, Pseudocercospora pandoreae, Pseudocercospora puderi, Pseudocercospora purpurea, Pseudocercospora rhapisicola, Pseudocercospora subsessilis, Pseudocercospora theae, Pseudocercospora vitis, Pseudocercosporella capsellae, Pseudocochliobolus eragrostidis, Pseudoepicoccum cocos, Pseudomonas amygdali, Pseudomonas asplenii, Pseudomonas avellanae, Pseudomonas caricapapayae, Pseudomonas cichorii, Pseudomonas coronafaciens, Pseudomonas corrugate, Pseudomonas ficuserectae, Pseudomonas flavescens, Pseudomonas fuscovaginae, Pseudomonas helianthi, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pseudomonas meliae, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans, Pseudomonas palleroniana, Pseudomonas papaveris, Pseudomonas salomonii, Pseudomonas savastanoi, Pseudomonas syringae, Pseudomonas tomato, Pseudomonas tremae, Pseudomonas turbinellae, Pseudomonas viridiflava, Pseudoperonospora cannabina, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Pseudoperonospora humuli, Pseudopezicula tetraspora, Pseudopezicula tracheiphila, Pseudopeziza jonesii, Pseudopeziza medicaginis, Pseudopeziza trifolii, Pseudoseptoria donacis, Puccinia, Puccinia angustata, Puccinia arachidis, Puccinia aristidae, Puccinia asparagi, Puccinia cacabata, Puccinia campanulae, Puccinia carthami, Puccinia coronate, Puccinia coronata var. hordei, Puccinia dioicae, Puccinia erianthi, Puccinia extensicola var. hieraciata, Puccinia helianthi, Puccinia hordei, Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis, Puccinia kuehnii, Puccinia mariae-wilsoniae, Puccinia melanocephala, Puccinia menthae, Puccinia pelargonii-zonalis, Puccinia pittieriana, Puccinia poarum, Puccinia psidii, Puccinia purpurea, Puccinia recondita, Puccinia schedonnardii, Puccinia sessilis, Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei, Puccinia striiformis var. striiformis, Puccinia subnitens, Puccinia substriata var. indica, Puccinia verruca, Puccinia xanthii, Pucciniaceae, Pucciniastrum, Pucciniastrum americanum, Pucciniastrum arcticum, Pucciniastrum coryli, Pucciniastrum epilobii, Pucciniastrum hydrangeae, Punctodera chalcoensis, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Pycnoporus sanguineus, Pycnostysanus azaleae, Pyrenochaeta lycopersici, Pyrenochaeta terrestris, Pyrenopeziza brassicae, Pyrenophora, Pyrenophora avenae, Pyrenophora chaetomioides, Pyrenophora graminea, Pyrenophora seminiperda, Pyrenophora teres, Pyrenophora teres f. maculata, Pyrenophora teres f. teres, Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, Pythiaceae, Pythiales, Pythium, Pythium acanthicum, Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium aristosporum, Pythium arrhenomanes, Pythium buismaniae, Pythium debaryanum, Pythium deliense, Pythium dissotocum, Pythium graminicola, Pythium heterothallicum, Pythium hypogynum, Pythium irregulare, Pythium iwayamae, Pythium mastophorum, Pythium middletonii, Pythium myriotylum, Pythium okanoganense, Pythium paddicum, Pythium paroecandrum, Pythium perniciosum, Pythium rostratum, Pythium scleroteichum, Pythium spinosum, Pythium splendens, Pythium sulcatum, Pythium sylvaticum, Pythium tardicrescens, Pythium tracheiphilum, Pythium ultimum, Pythium ultimum var. ultimum, Pythium vexans, Pythium violae, Pythium volutum, Quinisulcius acutus, Quinisulcius capitatus, Radopholous similis, Radopholus similis, Ralstonia solanacearum, Ramichloridium musae, Ramularia, Ramularia beticola, Ramularia brunnea, Ramularia coryli, Ramularia cyclaminicola, Ramularia macrospora, Ramularia menthicola, Ramularia necator, Ramularia primulae, Ramularia spinaciae, Ramularia subtilis, Ramularia tenella, Ramulispora sorghi, Ramulispora sorghicola, Resinicium bicolor, Rhabdocline pseudotsugae, Rhabdocline weirii Rhabdoviridae, Rhinocladium corticola, Rhizoctonia, Rhizoctonia leguminicola, Rhizoctonia rubi, Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizomorpha subcorticalis, Rhizophydium graminis, Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhizopus circinans, Rhizopus microsporus var. microspores, Rhizopus oryzae, Rhodococcus fascians, Rhynchosporium, Rhynchosporium secalis, Rhytidhysteron rufulum, Rhytisma acerinum, Rhytisma vitis, Rigidoporus lineatus, Rigidoporus microporus, Rigidoporus ulmarius, Rigidoporus vinctus, Rosellinia arcuata, Rosellinia bunodes, Rosellinia necatrix, Rosellinia pepo, Rosellinia subiculata, Rotylenchulus, Rotylenchulus parvus, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Rotylenchus brachyurus, Rotylenchus robustus, Saccharicola taiwanensis, Saccharomyces florentinus, Saccharomyces kluyveri, Sarocladium oryzae, Sawadaea, Sawadaea tulasnei, Schiffnerula cannabis, Schizoparme straminea, Schizophyllum commune, Schizopora flavipora, Schizothyrium pomi, Scleroderris canker, Sclerophthora macrospora, Sclerophthora rayssiae, Sclerospora graminicola, Sclerospora mischanthi, Sclerotinia borealis, Sclerotinia minor, Sclerotinia ricini, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotinia spermophila, Sclerotinia trifoliorum, Sclerotium, Sclerotium cinnamomi, Sclerotium delphinii, Scutellonema brachyurum, Scutellonema cavenessi, Scytinostroma galactinum, Seimatosporium mariae, Seimatosporium rhododendri, Selenophoma linicola, Septobasidium, Septobasidium bogoriense, Septobasidium pilosum, Septobasidium pseudopedicellatum, Septobasidium theae, Septocyta ruborum, Septogloeum potentillae, Septoria, Septoria aciculosa, Septoria ampelina, Septoria azalea, Septoria bataticola, Septoria campanulae, Septoria cannabis, Septoria caryae, Septoria citri, Septoria cucurbitacearum, Septoria darrowii, Septoria dianthi, Septoria eumusae, Septoria fragariae, Septoria fragariaecola, Septoria glycines, Septoria helianthi, Septoria humuli, Septoria hydrangeae, Septoria lactucae, Septoria liquidambaris, Septoria lycopersici, Septoria lycopersici var. malagutii, Septoria menthae, Septoria ostryae, Septoria passerinii, Septoria pisi, Septoria pistaciae, Septoria platanifolia, Septoria rhododendri, Septoria secalis, Septoria selenophomoides, Setosphaeria rostrata, Setosphaeria turcica, Sirosporium diffusum, Sparassis, Sphaceloma, Sphaceloma arachidis, Sphaceloma coryli, Sphaceloma menthae, Sphaceloma perseae, Sphaceloma poinsettiae, Sphaceloma pyrinum, Sphaceloma randii, Sphaceloma sacchari, Sphaceloma theae, Sphacelotheca reiliana, Sphaerella platanifolia, Sphaeropsis tumefaciens, Sphaerotheca, Sphaerotheca castagnei, Sphaerotheca fuliginea, Sphaerulina oryzina, Sphaerulina rehmiana, Sphaerulina rubi, Sphenospora kevorkianii, Spiniger meineckellus, Spiroplasma, Spongipellis unicolor, Sporisorium cruentum, Sporisorium ehrenbergi, Sporisorium scitamineum, Sporisorium sorghi, Sporonema phacidioides, Stagonospora avenae f.sp. triticae, Stagonospora meliloti, Stagonospora recedens, Stagonospora sacchari, Stagonospora tainanensis, Steccherinum ochraceum, Stegocintractia junci, Stegophora ulmea, Stemphylium alfalfa, Stemphylium bolickii, Stemphylium cannabinum, Stemphylium globuliferum, Stemphylium lycopersici, Stemphylium sarciniforme, Stemphylium solani, Stemphylium vesicarium, Stenella anthuriicola, Stereum, Stereum hirsutum, Stereum rameale, Stereum sanguinolentum, Stigmatomycosis, Stigmella platani-racemosae, Stigmina carpophila, Stigmina liquidambaris, Stigmina palmivora, Stigmina platani, Stigmina platani-racemosae, Subanguina radicicola, Subanguina wevelli, Sydowia polyspora, Sydowiella depressula, Sydowiellaceae, Synchytrium endobioticum, Synchytrium fragariae, Synchytrium liquidambaris, Taiwanofungus camphoratus, Tapesia acuformis, Tapesia yallundae, Taphrina aurea, Taphrina bullata, Taphrina caerulescens, Taphrina coryli, Taphrina deformans, Taphrina entomospora, Taphrina johansonii, Taphrina potentillae, Taphrina ulmi, Taphrina wiesneri, Thanatephorus cucumeris, Thielaviopsis, Thielaviopsis basicola, Thyrostroma compactum, Tilletia barclayana, Tilletia caries, Tilletia controversa, Tilletia laevis, Tilletia tritici, Tilletia walkeri, Tilletiariaceae, Tobacco necrosis virus, Togniniaceae, Trachysphaera fructigena, Trametes gibbosa, Trametes hirsute, Trametes nivosa, Trametes pubescens, Tranzschelia discolor f.sp. persica, Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae var. discolor, Trichaptum biforme, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichoderma viride, Trichothecium roseum, Tripospermum acerinum, Truncatella, Truncatella laurocerasi, Tubercularia lateritia, Tubercularia ulmea, Tubeufia pezizula, Tunstallia aculeata, Tylenchorhynchus, Tylenchorhynchus brevilineatus, Tylenchorhynchus claytoni, Tylenchorhynchus dubius, Tylenchorhynchus maximus, Tylenchorhynchus nudus, Tylenchorhynchus phaseoli, Tylenchorhynchus vulgaris, Tylenchorhynchus zeae, Tylenchulus semipenetrans, Typhula idahoensis, Typhula incarnate, Typhula ishikariensis, Typhula ishikariensis var. canadensis, Typhula variabilis, Typhulochaeta, Tyromyces calkinsii, Tyromyces chioneus, Tyromyces galactinus, Ulocladium atrum, Ulocladium consortiale, Uncinula, Uncinula macrospora, Uncinula necator, Uredo behnickiana, Uredo kriegeriana, Uredo musae, Uredo nigropuncta, Uredo rangelii, Urocystis, Urocystis agropyri, Urocystis brassicae, Urocystis occulta, Uromyces, Uromyces apiosporus, Uromyces beticola, Uromyces ciceris-arietini, Uromyces dianthi, Uromyces euphorbiae, Uromyces graminis, Uromyces inconspicuus, Uromyces lineolatus subsp. nearcticus, Uromyces medicaginis, Uromyces musae, Uromyces oblongus, Uromyces pisi-sativi, Uromyces proëminens var. poinsettiae, Uromyces trifolii-repentis var. fallens, Uromyces viciae-fabae var. viciae-fabae, Urophlyctis leproides, Urophlyctis trifolii, Urophora cardui, Ustilaginales, Ustilaginoidea virens, Ustilaginomycetes, Ustilago, Ustilago avenae, Ustilago hordei, Ustilago maydis, Ustilago nigra, Ustilago nuda, Ustilago scitaminea, Ustilago tritici, Valsa abietis, Valsa ambiens, Valsa auerswaldii, Valsa ceratosperma, Valsa kunzei, Valsa nivea, Valsa sordida, Valsaria insitiva, Venturia carpophila, Venturia inaequalis, Venturia pirina, Venturia pyrina, Veronaea musae, Verticillium, Verticillium albo-atrum, Verticillium albo-atrum var. menthae, Verticillium dahliae, Verticillium longisporum, Verticillium theobromae, Villosiclava virens, Virescence, Waitea circinata, Wuestneiopsis Georgiana, Xanthomonas ampelina, Xanthomonas axonopodis, Xanthomonas campestris, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, Xanthomonas oryzae, Xeromphalina fraxinophila, Xiphinema americanum, Xiphinema bakeri, Xiphinema brevicolle, Xiphinema diversicaudatum, Xiphinema insigne, Xiphinema rivesi, Xiphinema vuittenezi, Xylaria mali, Xylaria polymorpha, Xylella fastidiosa, Xylophilus, Xylophilus ampelinus, Zopfia rhizophila, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, and Zygosaccharomyces florentinus.

Insect and worm pathogens include Acalymma, Acyrthosiphon pisum, African armyworm, Africanized bee, Agromyzidae, Agrotis munda, Agrotis porphyricollis, Aleurocanthus woglumi, Aleyrodes proletella, Alphitobius diaperinus, Altica chalybea, Anasa tristis, Anguina tritici, Anisoplia austriaca, Anthonomus pomorum, Anthonomus signatus, Aonidiella aurantii, Apamea apamiformis, Apamea niveivenosa, Aphelenchoides spp., aphid, Aphis gossypii, apple maggot, Argentine ant, army cutworm, Arotrophora arcuatalis, Asterolecanium coffeae, Athous haemorrhoidalis, Aulacophora, Australian plague locust, Bactericera cockerelli, Bactrocera, Bactrocera correcta, Bagrada hilaris, banded hickory borer, beet armyworm, Belonolaimus spp., black bean aphid, Blepharidopterus chlorionis, Bogong moth, boll weevil, Bradysia similigibbosa, Brassica pod midge, Brevicoryne brassicae, brown locust, brown marmorated stink bug, brown planthopper, Bursephelenchus spp., cabbage Moth, cabbage worm, Callosobruchus maculatus, cane beetle, carrot fly, cereal cyst nematodes, Cecidomyiidae, Ceratitis capitata, Ceratitis rosa, cereal leaf beetle, Chlorops pumilionis, citrus long-horned beetle, Coccus viridis, codling moth, coffee borer beetle, colorado potato beetle, confused flour beetle, crambus, cucumber beetle, Curculio nucum, Curculio occidentis, cutworm, Cyclocephala borealis, dark sword-grass, date stone beetle, Delia spp., Delia antiqua, Delia floralis, Delia radicum, Desert locust, Diabrotica, Diabrotica balteata, Diabrotica speciosa, diamondback moth, Diaphania indica, Diaphania nitidalis, Diaphorina citri, Diaprepes abbreviatus, Diatraea saccharalis, differential grasshopper, Ditylenchus spp., Dociostaurus maroccanus, Drosophila suzukii, Dryocosmus kuriphilus, Earias perhuegeli, Epicauta vittata, Epilachna varivestis, Erionota thrax, Eriosomatinae, Euleia heraclei, Eumetopina flavipes, Eupoecilia ambiguella, European corn borer, Eurydema oleracea, Eurygaster integriceps, forest bug, Frankliniella tritici, Galleria mellonella, garden dart, glassy-winged sharpshooter, greenhouse whitefly, Gryllotalpa orientalis, Gryllus pennsylvanicus, gypsy moths, Helicoverpa armigera, Helicoverpa gelotopoeon, Helicoverpa punctigera, Helicoverpa zea, Heliothis virescens, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata, Hessian fly, Heterodera spp., Jacobiasca formosana, Japanese beetle, Khapra beetle, Lampides boeticus, leaf miner, Lepidiota consobrina, Lepidosaphes beckii, Lepidosaphes ulmi, Leptoglossus zonatus, Leptopterna dolabrata, lesser wax moth, Leucoptera (moth), Leucoptera caffeina, light brown apple moth, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, long-tailed Skipper, Lygus, Lygus hesperus, Maconellicoccus hirsutus, Macrodactylus subspinosus, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, maize weevil, Manduca sexta, Mayetiola hordei, Mealybug, Meloidogyne spp., Megacopta cribraria, Metcalfa pruinosa, moths, leek moth, Myzus persicae, Naccobus spp., Nezara viridula, oak processionary, olive fruit fly, Ophiomyia simplex, Opisina arenosella, Opomyza, Opomyza florum, Opomyzidae, Oscinella frit, Ostrinia furnacalis, Oxycarenus hyalinipennis, papaya mealy bug, Papilio demodocus, Paratachardina pseudolobata, Pentatomoidea, Phthorimaea operculella, Phyllophaga, Phylloxera, Phylloxeridae, Phylloxeroidea, Pieris brassicae, pink bollworm, Planococcus citri, Platynota idaeusalis, Plum curculio, Pratylenchus spp., Prionus californicus, Pseudococcus viburni, Pyralis farinalis, red imported fire ant, red locust, root lesion nematodes, root knot nematodes, Radopholus spp., Rotylenchulus spp., Rhagoletis cerasi, Rhagoletis indifferens, Rhagoletis mendax, Rhopalosiphum maidis, Rhyacionia frustrana, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, Rhynchophorus palmarum, Rhyzopertha, rice moth, rice stink bug, Russian wheat aphid, San Jose scale, scale insect, Schistocerca americana, Sciaridae, Scirtothrips dorsalis, Scutelleridae, Scutiphora pedicellata, seed gall nematodes, serpentine leaf miner, silverleaf whitefly, Sipha flava, small hive beetle, Southwestern corn borer, soybean aphid, Spodoptera cilium, Spodoptera litura, spotted cucumber beetle, squash vine borer, stem Nematodes, Stenotus binotatus, Strauzia longipennis, striped flea beetle, sunn pest, sweetpotato bug, tarnished plant bug, Thrips, Thrips angusticeps, Thrips palmi, Toxoptera citricida, Trichodorus spp., Trioza erytreae, turnip moth, Tuta absoluta, Tylenchulus spp., varied carpet beetle, Virachola isocrates, waxworm, Western corn rootworm, Western flower Thrips, wheat fly, wheat weevil, whitefly, winter moth, and Xiphenema spp.

For example, the insect or worm pathogen can be army worm, black cutworm, European corn borer, fall armyworm, cutworm, Japanese beetle, lesser cornstalk borer, maize billbug, seed corn maggot, webworm, southern cornstalk borer, southern corn rootworm, southern potato wireworm, stalk borer, sugarcane beetle, white grubs, cabbage looper, boll weevil, yellow striped armyworm, cereal leaf beetle, chinch bug, aphids, beet armyworm, Mexican bean beetle, soybean looper, soybean stem borer, or a combination thereof.

Proteins and Peptides that Enhance Stress Resistance in Plants

The invention also relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment and at least one protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant.

For example, the protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant comprises an enzyme that degrades a stress-related compound. Stress-related compounds include, but are not limited to, aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, oxylipins, and phenolics. Specific reactive oxygen species include hydroxyl, hydrogen peroxide, oxygen, and superoxide. The enzyme that degrades a stress-related compound can comprise a superoxide dismutase, an oxidase, a catalase, an aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase, a peroxidase, an antioxidant enzyme, or an antioxidant peptide.

The protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant can also comprise a protein or peptide that protects a plant from an environmental stress. The environmental stress can comprise, for example, drought, flood, heat, freezing, salt, heavy metals, low pH, high pH, or a combination thereof. For instance, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from an environmental stress can comprises an ice nucleation protein, a prolinase, a phenylalanine ammonia lyase, an isochorismate synthase, an isochorismate pyruvate lyase, or a choline dehydrogenase.

Plant Binding Proteins and Peptides

The invention also relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment and at least plant binding protein or peptide. The plant binding protein or peptide can be any protein or peptide that is capable of specifically or non-specifically binding to any part of a plant (e.g., a plant root or an aerial portion of a plant such as a leaf, stem, flower, or fruit) or to plant matter. Thus, for example, the plant binding protein or peptide can be a root binding protein or peptide, or a leaf binding protein or peptide.

Suitable plant binding proteins and peptides include adhesins (e.g., rhicadhesin), flagellins, omptins, lectins, expansins, biofilm structural proteins (e.g., TasA or YuaB) pilus proteins, curlus proteins, intimins, invasins, agglutinins, and afimbrial proteins.

Other Fusion Proteins

The present invention further relates to fusion proteins comprising at least one protein or peptide of interest and an exosporium protein comprising an exosporium protein comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 85% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 71, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, and 84. Alternatively, the exosporium protein can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least 100% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 71, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, and 84.

The protein or peptide of interest can comprise any protein or peptide. For example, the protein or peptide of interest can comprise any of the proteins or peptides described herein. For example, the protein or peptide of interest can comprise any of the plant growth stimulating proteins or peptides described herein, any of the proteins or peptides that protect a plant from a pathogen described herein, any of the proteins or peptides that enhances stress resistance in a plant described herein, or any of the a plant binding proteins or peptides described herein.

Thus, where the protein or peptide of interest comprises a plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide can comprise a peptide hormone, a non-hormone peptide, or an enzyme involved in the production or activation of a plant growth stimulating compound. Alternatively, the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide can comprise any of the enzymes that degrade or modify a bacterial, fungal, or plant nutrient source described hereinbelow.

Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members that Express the Fusion Proteins

The present invention also relates to a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member that expresses a fusion protein. The fusion protein can be any of the fusion proteins discussed above.

The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can coexpress two or more of any of the fusion proteins discussed above. For example, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can coexpress at least one fusion protein that comprises a plant binding protein or peptide, together with at least one fusion protein comprising a plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, at least one fusion protein comprising a protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen, or at least one protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant.

The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can comprise Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus pseudomycoides, Bacillus samanii, Bacillus gaemokensis, Bacillus weihenstephensis, or a combination thereof. For example, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can comprise Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus pseudomycoides, or Bacillus mycoides. In particular, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can comprise Bacillus thuringiensis or Bacillus mycoides.

To generate a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein, any Bacillus cereus family member can be conjugated, transduced, or transformed with a vector encoding the fusion protein using standard methods known in the art (e.g., by electroporation). The bacteria can then be screened to identify transformants by any method known in the art. For example, where the vector includes an antibiotic resistance gene, the bacteria can be screened for antibiotic resistance. Alternatively, DNA encoding the fusion protein can be integrated into the chromosomal DNA of a B. cereus family member host. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can then exposed to conditions which will induce sporulation. Suitable conditions for inducing sporulation are known in the art. For example, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can be plated onto agar plates, and incubated at a temperature of about 30° C. for several days (e.g., 3 days).

Inactivated strains, non-toxic strains, or genetically manipulated strains of any of the above species can also suitably be used. For example, a Bacillus thuringiensis that lacks the Cry toxin can be used. Alternatively or in addition, once the recombinant B. cereus family spores expressing the fusion protein have been generated, they can be inactivated to prevent further germination once in use. Any method for inactivating bacterial spores that is known in the art can be used. Suitable methods include, without limitation, heat treatment, gamma irradiation, x-ray irradiation, UV-A irradiation, UV-B irradiation, chemical treatment (e.g., treatment with gluteraldehyde, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, bleach, or any combination thereof), or a combination thereof. Alternatively, spores derived from nontoxigenic strains, or genetically or physically inactivated strains, can be used.

Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Having Plant-Growth Promoting Effects and/or Other Beneficial Attributes

Many Bacillus cereus family member strains have inherent beneficial attributes. For example, some strains have plant-growth promoting effects. Any of the fusion proteins described herein can be expressed in such strains.

For example, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can comprise a plant-growth promoting strain of bacteria.

The plant-growth promoting strain of bacteria can comprise a strain of bacteria that produces an insecticidal toxin (e.g., a Cry toxin), produces a fungicidal compound (e.g., a β-1,3-glucanase, a chitosinase, a lyticase, or a combination thereof), produces a nematocidal compound (e.g., a Cry toxin), produces a bacteriocidal compound, is resistant to one or more antibiotics, comprises one or more freely replicating plasmids, binds to plant roots, colonizes plant roots, forms biofilms, solubilizes nutrients, secretes organic acids, or any combination thereof.

For example, where the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member comprises a plant-growth promoting strain of bacteria, the plant growth-promoting strain of bacteria can comprise Bacillus mycoides BT155 (NRRL No. B-50921), Bacillus mycoides EE118 (NRRL No. B-50918), Bacillus mycoides EE141 (NRRL No. B-50916), Bacillus mycoides BT46-3 (NRRL No. B-50922), Bacillus cereus family member EE128 (NRRL No. B-50917), Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A (NRRL No. B-50924), or Bacillus cereus family member EE349 (NRRL No. B-50928). Each of these strains was deposited with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), having the address 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Illinois 61604 U.S.A., on Mar. 10, 2014, and is identified by the NRRL deposit number provided in parentheses.

These plant-growth promoting strains were isolated from the rhizospheres of various vigorous plants and were identified by their 16S rRNA sequences (provided herein as SEQ ID NOs. 104-110), and through biochemical assays. The strains were identified at least to their genus designation by means of conventional biochemistry and morphological indicators. Biochemical assays for confirmed Gram-positive strains such as Bacillus included growth on PEA medium and nutrient agar, microscopic examination, growth on 5% and 7.5% NaCl medium, growth at pH 5 and pH 9, growth at 42° C. and 50° C., the ability to produce acid upon fermentation with cellobiose, lactose, glycerol, glucose, sucrose, d-mannitol, and starch; fluorescent pigment production; gelatin hydrolysis; nitrate reduction; catalase production, starch hydrolysis; oxidase reaction, urease production and motility. Identification of these strains and demonstration of their plant-growth promoting effects are described further in the Examples hereinbelow.

For example, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member comprising a plant-growth promoting strain of bacteria can comprise Bacillus mycoides BT155, Bacillus mycoides EE141, or Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can express any of the fusion proteins described herein, e.g., a fusion protein comprising the targeting sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60 and a non-hormone peptide (e.g., kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI)), an enzyme involved in the production or activation of a plant growth stimulating compound (e.g., a chitosinase), a plant binding protein or peptide (e.g., TasA); a protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen (e.g., TasA), or an enzyme that degrades or modifies a bacterial, fungal, or plant nutrient source (e.g., a phosphatase such as PhoA or phytase, or an endoglucanase).

Promoters

In any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members described herein, the fusion protein can be expressed under the control of a promoter that is native to the targeting sequence, the exosporium protein, or the exosporium protein fragment of the fusion protein. For example, where the fusion protein comprises a targeting sequence derived from B. anthracis Sterne BclA (e.g., amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 1, or SEQ ID NO: 60) or where the fusion protein comprises full length BclA (SEQ ID NO: 2) or a fragment of full length BclA (e.g., SEQ ID NO: 59), the fusion protein can be expressed under the control of a promoter that is normally associated with the BclA gene in the genome of B. anthracis Sterne (e.g., the promoter of SEQ ID NO: 85).

Alternatively, the fusion protein can be expressed under the control of a high-expression sporulation promoter. In some cases, the promoter that is native to the targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment will be a high-expression sporulation promoter. In other cases, the promoter that is native to the targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment will not be a high-expression sporulation promoter. In the latter cases, it may be advantageous to replace the native promoter with a high-expression sporulation promoter. Expression of the fusion protein under the control of a high-expression sporulation promoter provides for increased expression of the fusion protein on the exosporium of the Bacillus cereus family member.

The high-expression sporulation promoter can comprise one or more sigma-K sporulation-specific polymerase promoter sequences.

Suitable high-expression sporulation promoters for use in expressing the fusion proteins in a Bacillus cereus family member include those listed in Table 2 below:

TABLE 2 Promoter Sequences Promoter (SEQ ID NO.) Sequence BclA promoter TAATCACCCTCTTCCAAATCAAT CATATGTTA TA CATATACTA AACT (B. anthracis Sterne) TTCCATTTTTTTAAATTGTTCAAGTAGTTTAAGATTTCTTTTCAATAAT (SEQ ID NO: 85) TCAAATGTCCGTGTCATTTTCTTTCGGTTTTG CATCTACTA TATAATG AACGCTTTATGGAGGTGAATTTATG BetA promoter ATTTATTTCATTCAATTTTTCCTATTTAGTACCTACCGCACTCACAAAA (B. anthracis Sterne) AGCACCTCTCATTAATTTATATTATAGTCATTGAAATCTAATTTAATGA (SEQ ID NO: 86) AATCAT CATACTATA TGTTTTATAAGAAGTAAAGGTAC CATACTTAA TTAATACATATCTATACACTTCAATATCACAGCATGCAGTTGAATTAT ATCCAACTTTCATTTCAAATTAAATAAGTGCCTCCGCTATTGTGAATG TCATTTACTCTCCCTACTA CATTTAATA ATTATGACAAGCAATCATAG GAGGTTACTACATG BAS1882 promoter AATTACATAACAAGAACTACATTAGGGAGCAAGCAGTCTAGCGAAAG (B. anthracis Sterne) CTAACTGCTTTTTTATTAAATAACTATTTTATTAAATTTCATATATACA (SEQ ID NO: 87) ATCGCTTGTCCATTTCATTTGGCTCTACCCACG CATTTACTA TTAGTA ATATGAATTTTTCAGAGGTGGATTTTATT Gene 3572 promoter CTATGATTTAAGATACACAATAGCAAAAGAGAAA CATATTATA TAAC (B. weihenstephensis GATAAATGAAACTTATGTATATGTATGGTAACTGTATATATTACTACA KBAB 4) ATACAGTATACTCATAGGAGGTAGGTATG (SEQ ID NO: 88) YVTN β-propeller GGTAGGTAGATTTGAAATATGATGAAGAAAAGGAATAACTAAAAGGA protein promoter GTCGATATCCGACTCCTTTTAGTTATAAATAATGTGGAATTAGAGTAT (B. weihenstephensis AATTTTATATAGGTATATTGTATTAGATGAACGCTTTATCCTTTAATTG KBAB 4) TGATTAATGATGGATTGTAAGAGAAGGGGCTTACAGTCCTTTTTTTAT (SEQ ID NO: 89) GGTGTTCTATAAGCCTTTTTAAAAGGGGTACCACCCCACACCCAAAAA CAGGGGGGGTTATAACTACATATTGGATGTTTTGTAACGTACAAGAAT CGGTATTAATTACCCTGTAAATAAGTTATGTGTATATAAGGTAACTT T ATATATTC TCCTACAATAAAATAAAGGAGGTAATAAAGTG Cry1A promoter AACCCTTAATGCATTGGTTAAACATTGTAAAGTCTAAAGCATGGATAA (B. thuringiensis  TGGGCGAGAAGTAAGTAGATTGTTAACACCCTGGGTCAAAAATTGAT HD-73) ATTTAGTAAAATTAGTTGCACTTTGTGCATTTTTT CATAAGATG AGT C (SEQ ID NO: 90) ATATGTTT TAAATTGTAGTAATGAAAAACAGTAT TATATCATAATGA A TTGGTATCTTAATAAAAGAGATGGAGGTAACTTA ExsY promoter TAATTCCACCTTCCCTTATCCTCTTTCGCCTATTTAAAAAAAGGTCTTG (B. thuringiensis  AGATTGTGACCAAATCTCCTCAACTCC AATATCTTA TTAATGTAAATA serovar konkukian CAAACAAGAAGATAAGGAGTGACATTAA str. 97-27) (SEQ ID NO: 91) CotY promoter AGGATGTCTTTTTTTATATTGTATTATGTACATCCCTACTATATAAATT (B. thuringiensis A1 CCCTGCTTTTATCGTAAGAATTAACGTAATATCAACCATATCCCGTT C Hakam) ATATTGTA GTAGTGTATGTCAGAACTCACGAGAAGGAGTGAACATAA (SEQ ID NO: 92) YjcA promoter TTAATGTCACTCCTTATCTTCTTGTTTGTATTTACATT AATAAGATA TT (B. thuringiensis GGAGTTGAGGAGATTTGGTCACAATCTCAAGACCTTTTTTTTAAATAG serovar kurstaki str. GCGAAAGAGGATAAGGGAAGGTGGAATTA HD73) (SEQ ID NO: 93) YjcB promoter ATATATTTTCATAATACGAGAAAAAGCGGAGTTTAAAAGAATGAGGG (B. thuringiensis AACGGAAATAAAGAGTTGTT CATATAGTA AATAGACAGAATTGACAG serovar kurstaki str. TAGAGGAGA HD73) (SEQ ID NO: 94) BxpB promoter AAACTAAATAATGAGCTAAGCATGGATTGGGTGGCAGAATTATCTGC (B. thuringiensis A1 CACCCAATC CATGCTTAA CGAGTATTATTATGTAAATTTCTTAAAATT Hakam) GGGAACTTGTCTAGAACATAGAACCTGTCCTTTT CATTAACTG AAAG SEQ ID NO: 95) TAGAAACAGATAAAGGAGTGAAAAACA Rhamnose promoter ATTCACTACAACGGGGATGAGTTTGATGCGGATA CATATGAGA AGTA (B. thuringiensis A1 CCGGAAAGTGTTTGTAGAA CATTACAA AGATATATTATCTCCATCATA Hakam) AAGGAGAGATGCAAAG (SEQ ID NO: 96) CotY/CotZ promoter CGCGCACCACTTCGTCGTACAACAACGCAAGAAGAAGTTGGGGATAC (B. anthracis Sterne) AGCAGTATTCTTATTCAGTGATTTAGCACGCGGCGTAACAGGAGAAA (SEQ ID NO: 97) ACATTCACGTTGATTCAGGGTAT CATATCTTA GGATAAATATAATATT AATTTTAAAGGACAATCTCTACATGTTGAGATTGTCCTTTTTATTTGTT CTTAGAAAGAACGATTTTTAACGAAAGTTCTTACCACGTTATGAATAT AAGTATAATAGTACACGATTTATTCAGCTACGTA Bc1C promoter TGAAGTATCTAGAGCTAATTTACGCAAAGGAATCTCAGGACAACACT (B. anthracis Sterne) TTCGCAACACCTATATTTTAAATTTAATAAAAAAAGAGACTCCGGAGT (SEQ ID NO: 98) CAGAAATTATAAAGCTAGCTGGGTTCAAATCAAAAATTTCACTAAAA CGATATTATCAATACGCAGAAAATGGAAAAAACGCCTTATCATAAGG CGTTTTTTCCATTTTTTCTTCAAACAAACGATTTTACTATGACCATTTA ACTAATTTTTG CATCTACTA TGATGAGTTTCATTCACATTCTCATTAG AAAGGAGAGATTTAATG Sigma K promoter TATATCATATGTAAAATTAGTTCTTATTCCCA CATATCATA TAGAATC (B. anthracis Sterne) GC CATATTATA CATGCAGAAAACTAAGTATGGTATTATTCTTAAATTG (SEQ ID NO: 99) TTTAGCACCTTCTAATATTACAGATAGAATCCGTCATTTTCAACAGTG AACATGGATTTCTTCTGAACACAACTCTTTTTCTTTCCTTATTTCCAAA AAGAAAAGCAGCCCATTTTAAAATACGGCTGCTTGTAATGTACATTA InhA promoter TATCACATAACTCTTTATTTTTAATATTTCGA CATAAAGTG AAACTTT (B. thuringiensis A1 AATCAGTGGGGGCTTTGTTCATCCCCCCACTGATTATTAATTGAACCA Hakam) AGGGATAAAAAGATAGAGGGTCTGACCAGAAAACTGGAGGGCATGA SEQ ID NO: 100) TTCTATAACAAAAAGCTTAATGTTTATAGAATTATGTCTTTTTATATAG GGAGGGTAGTAAACAGAGATTTGGACAAAAATGCACCGATTTATCTG AATTTTAAGTTTTATAAAGGGGAGAAATG Bc1A cluster ATTTTTTACTTAGCAGTAAAACTGATATCAGTTTTACTGCTTTTTCATT glycosyl transferase TTTAAATTCAATCATTAAATCTTCCTTTTCTACATAG TCATAATGTT GT operon 1 ATGACATTCCGTAGGAGGCACTTATA (B. thuringiensis serovar konkukian str. 97-27) (SEQ ID NO: 101) Bc1A cluster ACATAAATTCACCTCCATAAAGCGTTCATTATATAGTAGATGCAAAAC glycosyl transferase CGAAAGAAAATGACACGGACATTTGAATTATTGAAAAGAAATCTTAA operon 2 ACTACTTGAACAATTTAAAAAAATGGAAAGTTTAGTATATGTATAA C (B. thuringiensis ATATGATT GATTTGGAAGAGGGTGATTA serovar kurstaki str. HD73) (SEQ ID NO: 102) Glycosyl transferase TTCTATTTTCCAA CATAACATG CTACGATTAAATGGTTTTTTGCAAAT promoter GCCTTCTTGGGAAGAAGGATTAGAGCGTTTTTTTATAGAAACCAAAAG (B. thuringiensis A1 TCATTAACAATTTTAAGTTAATGACTTTTTTGTTTGCCTTTAAGAGGTT Hakam) TTATGTTACTATAATTATAGTATCAGGTACTAATAACAAGTATAAGTA (SEQ ID NO: 103) TTTCTGGGAGGATATATCA

In the promoter sequences listed in Table 2 above, the locations of the sigma-K sporulation-specific polymerase promoter sequences are indicated by bold and underlined text. The Cry1A promoter (B. thuringiensis HD-73; SEQ ID NO: 90) has a total of four sigma-K sequences, two of which overlap with one another, as indicated by the double underlining in Table 2.

Preferred high-expression sporulation promoters for use in expressing the fusion proteins in a Bacillus cereus family member include the BetA promoter (B. anthracis Sterne; SEQ ID NO: 86), the BclA promoter (B. anthracis Sterne; SEQ ID NO: 85), the BclA cluster glycosyl transferase operons 1 and 2 promoters (B. anthracis Sterne; SEQ ID NOs: 101 and 102), and the YVTN β-propeller protein promoter (B. weihenstephensis KBAB 4; SEQ ID NO: 89).

In any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members described herein, the fusion protein can be expressed under the control of a sporulation promoter comprising a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity with a nucleic acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 85-103.

When the sporulation promoter comprising a nucleic acid sequence having at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, or at least 99% identity with a nucleic acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 85-103, the sigma-K sporulation-specific polymerase promoter sequence or sequences preferably have 100% identity with the corresponding nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, or 103. For example, as illustrated in Table 2 above, the BclA promoter of B. anthracis Sterne (SEQ ID NO: 85) has sigma-K sporulation-specific polymerase promoter sequences at nucleotides 24-32, 35-43, and 129-137. Thus, if the sporulation promoter comprises a sequence having at least 90% identity with the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 85, it is preferred that the nucleotides of the sporulation promoter corresponding to nucleotides 24-32, 35-43, and 129-137 of SEQ ID NO: 85 have 100% identity with nucleotides 24-32, 35-43, and 129-137 of SEQ ID NO: 85.

Formulations

The present invention also relates to formulations comprising any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed in the preceding section and an agriculturally acceptable carrier.

The agriculturally acceptable carrier can be any carrier suitable for agricultural use. For example, suitable agriculturally acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to dispersants, surfactants, additives, water, thickeners, anti-caking agents, residue breakdown, composting formulations, granular applications, diatomaceous earth, oils, coloring agents, stabilizers, preservatives, polymers, coatings, and combinations thereof.

The additive can comprise an oil, a gum, a resin, a clay, a polyoxyethylene glycol, a terpene, a viscid organic, a fatty acid ester, a sulfated alcohol, an alkyl sulfonate, a petroleum sulfonate, an alcohol sulfate, a sodium alkyl butane diamate, a polyester of sodium thiobutane dioate, a benzene acetonitrile derivative, a proteinaceous material (e.g., a milk product, wheat flour, soybean meal, blood, albumin, gelatin, or a combination thereof), or a combination thereof.

The thickener can comprise a long chain alkylsulfonate of polyethylene glycol, a polyoxyethylene oleate, or a combination thereof.

The surfactant can comprise a heavy petroleum oil, a heavy petroleum distillate, a polyol fatty acid ester, a polyethoxylated fatty acid ester, an aryl alkyl polyoxyethylene glycol, an alkyl amine acetate, an alkyl aryl sulfonate, a polyhydric alcohol, an alkyl phosphate, or a combination thereof.

The anti-caking agent comprises a sodium salt, a calcium carbonate, diatomaceous earth, or a combination thereof. For example, the sodium salt can comprise a sodium salt of monomethyl naphthalene sulfonate, a sodium salt of dimethyl naphthalene sulfonate, a sodium sulfite, a sodium sulfate, or a combination thereof.

Suitable agriculturally acceptable carriers include vermiculite, charcoal, sugar factory carbonation press mud, rice husk, carboxymethyl cellulose, peat, perlite, fine sand, calcium carbonate, flour, alum, a starch, talc, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, or a combination thereof.

The formulation can comprise a seed coating formulation, a liquid formulation for application to plants or to a plant growth medium, or a solid formulation for application to plants or to a plant growth medium.

For example, the seed coating formulation can comprise an aqueous or oil-based solution for application to seeds. Alternatively, the seed coating formulation can comprise a powder or granular formulation for application to seeds.

The liquid formulation for application to plants or to a plant growth medium can comprise a concentrated formulation or a ready-to-use formulation.

The solid formulation for application to plants or to a plant growth medium can comprises a granular formulation or a powder agent.

Any of the above formulations can also comprise an agrochemical, for example, a fertilizer, a micronutrient fertilizer material, an insecticide, a herbicide, a plant growth amendment, a fungicide, an insecticide, a molluscicide, an algicide, a bacterial inoculant, a fungal inoculant, or a combination thereof.

The fertilizer can comprise a liquid fertilizer.

The fertilizer can comprise ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, ammonium chloride, ammonium bisulfate, ammonium polysulfide, ammonium thiosulfate, aqueous ammonia, anhydrous ammonia, ammonium polyphosphate, aluminum sulfate, calcium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, calcium sulfate, calcined magnesite, calcitic limestone, calcium oxide, calcium nitrate, dolomitic limestone, hydrated lime, calcium carbonate, diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium sulfate, potassium nitrate, potassium chloride, potassium magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate, sodium nitrates, magnesian limestone, magnesia, urea, urea-formaldehydes, urea ammonium nitrate, sulfur-coated urea, polymer-coated urea, isobutylidene diurea, K₂SO₄-2MgSO₄, kainite, sylvinite, kieserite, Epsom salts, elemental sulfur, marl, ground oyster shells, fish meal, oil cakes, fish manure, blood meal, rock phosphate, super phosphates, slag, bone meal, wood ash, manure, bat guano, peat moss, compost, green sand, cottonseed meal, feather meal, crab meal, fish emulsion, humic acid, or a combination thereof.

The micronutrient fertilizer material can comprise boric acid, a borate, a boron frit, copper sulfate, a copper frit, a copper chelate, a sodium tetraborate decahydrate, an iron sulfate, an iron oxide, iron ammonium sulfate, an iron frit, an iron chelate, a manganese sulfate, a manganese oxide, a manganese chelate, a manganese chloride, a manganese frit, a sodium molybdate, molybdic acid, a zinc sulfate, a zinc oxide, a zinc carbonate, a zinc frit, zinc phosphate, a zinc chelate, or a combination thereof.

The insecticide can comprise an organophosphate, a carbamate, a pyrethroid, an acaricide, an alkyl phthalate, boric acid, a borate, a fluoride, sulfur, a haloaromatic substituted urea, a hydrocarbon ester, a biologically-based insecticide, or a combination thereof.

The herbicide can comprise a chlorophenoxy compound, a nitrophenolic compound, a nitrocresolic compound, a dipyridyl compound, an acetamide, an aliphatic acid, an anilide, a benzamide, a benzoic acid, a benzoic acid derivative, anisic acid, an anisic acid derivative, a benzonitrile, benzothiadiazinone dioxide, a thiocarbamate, a carbamate, a carbanilate, chloropyridinyl, a cyclohexenone derivative, a dinitroaminobenzene derivative, a fluorodinitrotoluidine compound, isoxazolidinone, nicotinic acid, isopropylamine, an isopropylamine derivatives, oxadiazolinone, a phosphate, a phthalate, a picolinic acid compound, a triazine, a triazole, a uracil, a urea derivative, endothall, sodium chlorate, or a combination thereof.

The fungicide can comprise a substituted benzene, a thiocarbamate, an ethylene bis dithiocarbamate, a thiophthalidamide, a copper compound, an organomercury compound, an organotin compound, a cadmium compound, anilazine, benomyl, cyclohexamide, dodine, etridiazole, iprodione, metlaxyl, thiamimefon, triforine, or a combination thereof.

The fungal inoculant can comprise a fungal inoculant of the family Glomeraceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Claroidoglomeraceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Gigasporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Acaulosporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Sacculosporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Entrophosporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Pacidsporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Diversisporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Paraglomeraceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Archaeosporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Geosiphonaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Ambisporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Scutellosporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Dentiscultataceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Racocetraceae, a fungal inoculant of the phylum Basidiomycota, a fungal inoculant of the phylum Ascomycota, a fungal inoculant of the phylum Zygomycota, or a combination thereof.

The bacterial inoculant can comprise a bacterial inoculant of the genus Rhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Bradyrhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Mesorhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Azorhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Allorhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Sinorhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Kluyvera, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Azotobacter, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Pseudomonas, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Azospirillium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Bacillus, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Streptomyces, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Paenibacillus, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Paracoccus, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Enterobacter, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Alcaligenes, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Mycobacterium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Trichoderma, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Gliocladium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Glomus, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Klebsiella, or a combination thereof.

The bacterial inoculant can comprise a plant-growth promoting strain of bacteria. The plant-growth promoting strain of bacteria can comprise a strain of bacteria that produces an insecticidal toxin (e.g., a Cry toxin), produces a fungicidal compound (e.g., a β-1,3-glucanase, a chitosinase, a lyticase, or a combination thereof), produces a nematocidal compound (e.g., a Cry toxin), produces a bacteriocidal compound, is resistant to one or more antibiotics, comprises one or more freely replicating plasmids, binds to plant roots, colonizes plant roots, forms biofilms, solubilizes nutrients, secretes organic acids, or any combination thereof.

For example, the bacterial inoculant can comprise Bacillus aryabhattai CAP53 (NRRL No. B-50819), Bacillus aryabhattai CAP56 (NRRL No. B-50817), Bacillus flexus BT054 (NRRL No. B-50816), Paracoccus kondratievae NC35 (NRRL No. B-50820), Bacillus mycoides BT155 (NRRL No. B-50921), Enterobacter cloacae CAP12 (NRRL No. B-50822), Bacillus nealsonii BOBA57 (NRRL No. NRRL B-50821), Bacillus mycoides EE118 (NRRL No. B-50918), Bacillus subtilis EE148 (NRRL No. B-50927), Alcaligenes faecalis EE107 (NRRL No. B-50920), Bacillus mycoides EE141 (NRRL NO. B-50916), Bacillus mycoides BT46-3 (NRRL No. B-50922), Bacillus cereus family member EE128 (NRRL No. B-50917), Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A (NRRL No. B-50924), Paenibacillus massiliensis BT23 (NRRL No. B-50923), Bacillus cereus family member EE349 (NRRL No. B-50928), Bacillus subtilis EE218 (NRRL No. B-50926), Bacillus megaterium EE281 (NRRL No. B-50925), or a combination thereof. Each of these strains was deposited with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS), having the address 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Illinois 61604 U.S.A., on Mar. 7, 2013 (Bacillus aryabhattai CAP53, Bacillus aryabhattai CAP56, Bacillus flexus BT054, Paracoccus kondratievae NC35, Enterobacter cloacae CAP12, and Bacillus nealsonii BOBA57) or on Mar. 10, 2014 (Bacillus mycoides BT155, Bacillus mycoides EE118, Bacillus subtilis EE148, Alcaligenes faecalis EE107, Bacillus mycoides EE141, Bacillus mycoides BT46-3, Bacillus cereus family member EE128, Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A, Paenibacillus massiliensis BT23, Bacillus cereus family member EE349, Bacillus subtilis EE218, and Bacillus megaterium EE281), and is identified by the NRRL numbers provided in parentheses.

These plant-growth promoting strains were isolated from the rhizospheres of various vigorous plants and were identified by their 16S rRNA sequences (provided herein as SEQ ID NOs. 104-121), and through biochemical assays. The strains were identified at least to their genus designation by means of conventional biochemistry and morphological indicators. Biochemical assays for confirmed Gram-negative strains such as Paracoccus kondratievae, Alcaligenes faecalis, and Enterobacter cloacae included growth on MacConkey medium and nutrient agar, microscopic examination, growth on 5% and 7.5% NaCl medium, growth at pH 5 and pH 9, growth at 42° C. and 50° C., the ability to produce acid upon fermentation with cellobiose, lactose, glycerol, glucose, sucrose, d-mannitol, and starch; fluorescent pigment production; gelatin hydrolysis; nitrate reduction; starch hydrolysis; oxidase reaction, catalase production, urease production and motility. Similarly, the biochemical assays for confirmed Gram-positive strains such as Bacillus and Paenibacillus included growth on PEA medium and nutrient agar, microscopic examination, growth on 5% and 7.5% NaCl medium, growth at pH 5 and pH 9, growth at 42° C. and 50° C., the ability to produce acid upon fermentation with cellobiose, lactose, glycerol, glucose, sucrose, d-mannitol, and starch; fluorescent pigment production; gelatin hydrolysis; nitrate reduction; catalase production, starch hydrolysis; oxidase reaction, urease production and motility. Identification of these strains and demonstration of their plant-growth promoting effects are described further in the Examples hereinbelow.

For example, the formulation can comprise a plant-growth promoting strain of bacteria comprising Paracoccus kondratievae NC35, Bacillus aryabhattai CAP53, or Bacillus megaterium EE281, wherein the formulation further comprises any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members described herein, including any of the recombinant plant-growth promoting Bacillus cereus family member strains herein (e.g., recombinant Bacillus mycoides BT155, Bacillus mycoides EE141, or Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A). The recombinant plant-growth promoting Bacillus cereus family member strain can express any of the fusion proteins described herein, e.g., a fusion protein comprising the targeting sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60 and a non-hormone peptide (e.g., kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI)), an enzyme involved in the production or activation of a plant growth stimulating compound (e.g., a chitosinase), a plant binding protein or peptide (e.g., TasA); a protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen (e.g., TasA), or an enzyme that degrades or modifies a bacterial, fungal, or plant nutrient source (e.g., a phosphatase such as PhoA or phytase, or an endoglucanase).

Methods for Promoting Plant Growth

The present invention also relates to methods for stimulating plant growth. The method for stimulating plant growth comprises introducing into a plant growth medium any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above. Alternatively, any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above can be applied to a plant, to a plant seed, or to an area surrounding a plant or a plant seed. In such methods, the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus family member.

Alternatively, the method for stimulating plant growth comprises introducing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein into a plant growth medium or applying a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein to plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant or a plant seed. The fusion protein comprises at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide and a targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment. The plant growth stimulating protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus family member. The targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment can be any of the targeting sequences, exosporium proteins, or exosporium protein fragments listed herein above.

Furthermore, the targeting sequence can consist of 16 amino acids and have at least about 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 54%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence can consist of amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; SEQ ID NO: 1, or SEQ ID NO: 60.

The targeting sequence can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%.

The targeting sequence can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%.

The targeting sequence can comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 56% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 56% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%.

The targeting sequence can comprise an amino sequence having at least about 62% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 62% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 of SEQ ID NO:1 is at least about 72%.

The targeting sequence can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 68% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 68% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%.

The targeting sequence can comprise an amino sequence having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 of SEQ ID NO:1 is at least about 72%.

The targeting sequence can comprise an amino sequence having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 of SEQ ID NO:1 is at least about 81%.

The targeting sequence can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%.

The targeting sequence can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 90%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 90%.

Alternatively, the exosporium protein or exosporium protein fragment can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 59, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, and 84.

The plant growth stimulating protein can comprise an enzyme. For example, the enzyme can comprise an enzyme that degrades or modifies a bacterial, fungal, or plant nutrient source. Such enzymes include cellulases, lipases, lignin oxidases, proteases, glycoside hydrolases, phosphatases, nitrogenases, nucleases, amidases, nitrate reductases, nitrite reductases, amylases, ammonia oxidases, ligninases, glucosidases, phospholipases, phytases, pectinases, glucanases, sulfatases, ureases, xylanases, and siderophores. When introduced into a plant growth medium or applied to a plant, seed, or an area surrounding a plant or a plant seed, fusion proteins comprising enzymes that degrade or modify a bacterial, fungal, or plant nutrient source can aid in the processing of nutrients in the vicinity of the plant and result in enhanced uptake of nutrients by the plant or by beneficial bacteria or fungi in the vicinity of the plant.

Suitable cellulases include endocellulases (e.g., an endogluconase such as a Bacillus subtilis endoglucanase, a Bacillus thuringiensis endoglucanase, a Bacillus cereus endoglucanase, or a Bacillus clausii endoglucanase), exocellulases (e.g., a Trichoderma reesei exocellulase), and β-glucosidases (e.g., a Bacillus subtilis β-glucosidase, a Bacillus thuringiensis β-glucosidase, a Bacillus cereus β-glucosidase, or a Bacillus clausii B-glucosidase).

The lipase can comprise a Bacillus subtilis lipase, a Bacillus thuringiensis lipase, a Bacillus cereus lipase, or a Bacillus clausii lipase.

Suitable lignin oxidases comprise lignin peroxidases, laccases, glyoxal oxidases, ligninases, and manganese peroxidases.

The protease can comprise a subtilisin, an acid protease, an alkaline protease, a proteinase, a peptidase, an endopeptidase, an exopeptidase, a thermolysin, a papain, a pepsin, a trypsin, a pronase, a carboxylase, a serine protease, a glutamic protease, an aspartate protease, a cysteine protease, a threonine protease, or a metalloprotease.

The phosphatase can comprise a phosphoric monoester hydrolase, a phosphomonoesterase (e.g., PhoA4), a phosphoric diester hydrolase, a phosphodiesterase, a triphosphoric monoester hydrolase, a phosphoryl anhydride hydrolase, a pyrophosphatase, a phytase (e.g., Bacillus subtilis EE148 phytase or Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A phytase), a trimetaphosphatase, or a triphosphatase.

The nitrogenase can comprise a Nif family nitrogenase (e.g., Paenibacillus massiliensis NifBDEHKNXV).

In any of the above methods for stimulating plant growth, plants grown in the plant growth medium comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member exhibit increased growth as compared to the growth of plants in the identical plant growth medium that does not contain the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.

In any of the above methods for stimulating plant growth, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can comprise any of the recombinant plant-growth promoting strains of bacteria described above.

In any of the above methods for stimulating plant growth, the fusion protein can be expressed under the control of any of the promoters described above.

Methods for Protecting a Plant from a Pathogen

The present invention further relates to methods for protecting a plant from a pathogen. Such methods comprise introducing any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above into a plant growth medium. Alternatively, such methods comprise applying any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above to a plant, to a plant seed, or to an area surrounding a plant or a plant seed. In these methods, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.

Plants grown in the plant growth medium comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member are less susceptible to infection with the pathogen as compared to plants grown in the identical plant growth medium that does not contain the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member. The reduced susceptibility the pathogen can be a result of stimulation of the plant's immune system by the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen, or can result from a direct or indirect effect of the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen on the pathogen.

Methods for Enhancing Stress Resistance in a Plant

The present invention further relates to methods for enhancing stress resistance in a plant. Such methods comprise introducing any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above into a plant growth medium. Alternatively, such methods comprise applying any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above to a plant, to a plant seed, or to an area surrounding a plant or a plant seed. In these methods, the protein or peptide that enhances stress resistance in a plant is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.

Plants grown in the plant growth medium comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member are less susceptible to stress as compared to plants grown in the identical plant growth medium that does not contain the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.

Methods for Immobilizing Bacillus cereus Family Member Spores on a Plant

The present invention is also directed to methods for immobilizing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member spore on a plant. These methods comprise introducing any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above into a plant growth medium. Alternatively, such methods comprise applying any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above to a plant, to a plant seed, or to an area surrounding a plant or a plant seed. The plant binding protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus family member.

These methods allow the Bacillus cereus family member spore to bind to a plant, such that the spore is maintained on the plant. For example, these methods allow the Bacillus cereus family member spore to bind to a root of a plant or to an aerial portion of a plant (e.g., foliage, stems, fruits, or flowers), such that the spore is maintained at the plant's root structure or on the aerial portion of a plant instead of dissipating into the plant growth medium or into the environment surrounding the aerial portion of the plant.

In any of the methods for immobilizing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member spore on a plant, the plant binding protein or peptide can selectively target and maintain the Bacillus cereus family member on the plant or on at plant structure or substructure (e.g., at plant roots and substructures of plant roots or at an aerial portion of a plant or a substructure of an aerial portion of a plant).

Plant Growth Medium

In any of the above methods, the plant growth medium is material that is capable of supporting the growth of a plant. The plant growth medium can comprise soil, water, an aqueous solution, sand, gravel, a polysaccharide, mulch, compost, peat moss, straw, logs, clay, soybean meal, yeast extract, or a combination thereof. For example, the plant growth medium comprises soil, compost, peat moss, or a combination thereof.

The plant growth medium can optionally be supplemented with a substrate for an enzyme. For example, the substrate can comprise tryptophan, an adenosine monophosphate, an adenosine diphosphate, an adenosine triphosphate (e.g., adenosine-3-triphosphate), indole, a trimetaphosphate, ferrodoxin, acetoin, diacetyl, pyruvate, acetolactate, pectin, cellulose, methylcellulose, starch, chitin, pectin, a protein meal, a cellulose derivative, a phosphate, acetoin, chitosan, an inactive derivative of indole-3-acetic acid, an inactive derivative of gibberellic acid, a xylan, choline, a choline derivative, proline, a polyproline, a proline rich meal, a proline-rich protein, phenylalanine, chorismate, an arabinoxylan, a fat, a wax, an oil, a phytic acid, a lignin, a humic acid, choline, a choline derivative, or a combination thereof.

Application Methods

In any of the above methods, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member or formulation can be introduced into the plant growth medium or applied to a plant, to a plant seed, or to an area surrounding a plant or a plant seed.

For example, the method can comprise coating seeds with the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member or a formulation containing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member prior to planting.

Alternatively, the method can comprise applying the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member or formulation to an aerial portion of a plant, e.g., to foliage, stems, fruits, or flowers. For example, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member or formulation can be sprayed, brushed, dipped, or otherwise applied to the leaves or other aerial portions of a plant.

The method can comprise introducing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member into the plant growth medium by applying a liquid or solid formulation containing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member to the medium (e.g., soil, compost, peat moss, or a combination thereof).

The formulation can be applied to the plant growth medium prior to, concurrently with, or after planting of seeds, seedlings, cuttings, bulbs, or plants in the plant growth medium.

Co-Application of Agrochemicals

Any of the above methods can further comprise introducing at least one agrochemical into the plant growth medium or applying at least one agrochemical to plants or seeds. The agrochemical can be any of those listed above for inclusion in the formulations, or any combination thereof.

Plants

The above methods can be practiced with a variety of plants. For example, the plant can be a dicotyledon, a monocotyledon, or a gymnosperm.

For example, where the plant is a dicotyledon, the dicotyledon can be selected from the group consisting of bean, pea, tomato, pepper, squash, alfalfa, almond, aniseseed, apple, apricot, arracha, artichoke, avocado, bambara groundnut, beet, bergamot, black pepper, black wattle, blackberry, blueberry, bitter orange, bok-choi, Brazil nut, breadfruit, broccoli, broad bean, Brussels sprouts, buckwheat, cabbage, camelina, Chinese cabbage, cacao, cantaloupe, caraway seeds, cardoon, carob, carrot, cashew nuts, cassava, castor bean, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, cherry, chestnut, chickpea, chicory, chili pepper, chrysanthemum, cinnamon, citron, clementine, clove, clover, coffee, cola nut, colza, corn, cotton, cottonseed, cowpea, crambe, cranberry, cress, cucumber, currant, custard apple, drumstick tree, earth pea, eggplant, endive, fennel, fenugreek, fig, filbert, flax, geranium, gooseberry, gourd, grape, grapefruit, guava, hemp, hempseed, henna, hop, horse bean, horseradish, indigo, jasmine, Jerusalem artichoke, jute, kale, kapok, kenaf, kohlrabi, kumquat, lavender, lemon, lentil, lespedeza, lettuce, lime, liquorice, litchi, loquat, lupine, macadamia nut, mace, mandarin, mangel, mango, medlar, melon, mint, mulberry, mustard, nectarine, niger seed, nutmeg, okra, olive, opium, orange, papaya, parsnip, pea, peach, peanut, pear, pecan nut, persimmon, pigeon pea, pistachio nut, plantain, plum, pomegranate, pomelo, poppy seed, potato, sweet potato, prune, pumpkin, quebracho, quince, trees of the genus Cinchona, quinoa, radish, ramie, rapeseed, raspberry, rhea, rhubarb, rose, rubber, rutabaga, safflower, sainfoin, salsify, sapodilla, Satsuma, scorzonera, sesame, shea tree, soybean, spinach, squash, strawberry, sugar beet, sugarcane, sunflower, swede, sweet pepper, tangerine, tea, teff, tobacco, tomato, trefoil, tung tree, turnip, urena, vetch, walnut, watermelon, yerba mate, wintercress, shepherd's purse, garden cress, peppercress, watercress, pennycress, star anise, laurel, bay laurel, cassia, jamun, dill, tamarind, peppermint, oregano, rosemary, sage, soursop, pennywort, calophyllum, balsam pear, kukui nut, Tahitian chestnut, basil, huckleberry, hibiscus, passionfruit, star apple, sassafras, cactus, St. John's wort, loosestrife, hawthorn, cilantro, curry plant, kiwi, thyme, zucchini, ulluco, jicama, waterleaf, spiny monkey orange, yellow mombin, starfruit, amaranth, wasabi, Japanese pepper, yellow plum, mashua, Chinese toon, New Zealand spinach, bower spinach, ugu, tansy, chickweed, jocote, Malay apple, paracress, sowthistle, Chinese potato, horse parsley, hedge mustard, campion, agate, cassod tree, thistle, burnet, star gooseberry, saltwort, glasswort, sorrel, silver lace fern, collard greens, primrose, cowslip, purslane, knotgrass, terebinth, tree lettuce, wild betel, West African pepper, yerba santa, tarragon, parsley, chervil, land cress, burnet saxifrage, honeyherb, butterbur, shiso, water pepper, perilla, bitter bean, oca, kampong, Chinese celery, lemon basil, Thai basil, water mimosa, cicely, cabbage-tree, moringa, mauka, ostrich fern, rice paddy herb, yellow sawah lettuce, lovage, pepper grass, maca, bottle gourd, hyacinth bean, water spinach, catsear, fishwort, Okinawan spinach, lotus sweetjuice, gallant soldier, culantro, arugula, cardoon, caigua, mitsuba, chipilin, samphire, mampat, ebolo, ivy gourd, cabbage thistle, sea kale, chaya, huauzontle, Ethiopian mustard, magenta spreen, good king henry, epazole, lamb's quarters, centella plumed cockscomb, caper, rapini, napa cabbage, mizuna, Chinese savoy, kai-lan, mustard greens, Malabar spinach, chard, marshmallow, climbing wattle, China jute, paprika, annatto seed, spearmint, savory, marjoram, cumin, chamomile, lemon balm, allspice, bilberry, cherimoya, cloudberry, damson, pitaya, durian, elderberry, feijoa, jackfruit, jambul, jujube, physalis, purple mangosteen, rambutan, redcurrant, blackcurrant, salal berry, satsuma, ugli fruit, azuki bean, black bean, black-eyed pea, borlotti bean, common bean, green bean, kidney bean, lima bean, mung bean, navy bean, pinto bean, runner bean, mangetout, snap pea, broccoflower, calabrese, nettle, bell pepper, raddichio, daikon, white radish, skirret, tat soi, broccolini, black radish, burdock root, fava bean, broccoli raab, lablab, lupin, sterculia, velvet beans, winged beans, yam beans, mulga, ironweed, umbrella bush, tjuntjula, wakalpulka, witchetty bush, wiry wattle, chia, beech nut, candlenut, colocynth, mamoncillo, Maya nut, mongongo, ogbono nut, paradise nut, and cempedak.

Alternatively, the dicotyledon can be from a family selected from the group consisting of Acanthaceae (acanthus), Aceraceae (maple), Achariaceae, Achatocarpaceae (achatocarpus), Actinidiaceae (Chinese gooseberry), Adoxaceae (moschatel), Aextoxicaceae, Aizoaceae (fig marigold), Akaniaceae, Alangiaceae, Alseuosmiaceae, Alzateaceae, Amaranthaceae (amaranth), Amborellaceae, Anacardiaceae (sumac), Ancistrocladaceae, Anisophylleaceae, Annonaceae (custard apple), Apiaceae (carrot), Apocynaceae (dogbane), Aquifoliaceae (holly), Araliaceae (Ginseng), Aristolochiaceae (birthwort), Asclepiadaceae (milkweed), Asteraceae (aster), Austrobaileyaceae, Balanopaceae, Balanophoraceae (balanophora), Balsaminaceae (touch-me-not), Barbeyaceae, Barclayaceae, Basellaceae (basella), Bataceae (saltwort), Begoniaceae (Begonia), Berberidaceae (barberry), Betulaceae (birch), Bignoniaceae (trumpet creeper), Bixaceae (lipstick tree), Bombacaceae (kapok tree), Boraginaceae (borage), Brassicaceae (mustard, also Cruciferae), Bretschneideraceae, Brunelliaceae (brunellia), Bruniaceae, Brunoniaceae, Buddlejaceae (butterfly bush), Burseraceae (frankincense), Buxaceae (boxwood), Byblidaceae, Cabombaceae (water shield), Cactaceae (cactus), Caesalpiniaceae, Callitrichaceae (water starwort), Calycanthaceae (strawberry shrub), Calyceraceae (calycera), Campanulaceae (bellflower), Canellaceae (canella), Cannabaceae (hemp), Capparaceae (caper), Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle), Cardiopteridaceae, Caricaceae (papaya), Caryocaraceae (souari), Caryophyllaceae (pink), Casuarinaceae (she-oak), Cecropiaceae (cecropia), Celastraceae (bittersweet), Cephalotaceae, Ceratophyllaceae (hornwort), Cercidiphyllaceae (katsura tree), Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot), Chloranthaceae (chloranthus), Chrysobalanaceae (cocoa plum), Circaeasteraceae, Cistaceae (rockrose), Clethraceae (clethra), Clusiaceae (mangosteen, also Guttiferae), Cneoraceae, Columelliaceae, Combretaceae (Indian almond), Compositae (aster), Connaraceae (cannarus), Convolvulaceae (morning glory), Coriariaceae, Cornaceae (dogwood), Corynocarpaceae (karaka), Crassulaceae (stonecrop), Crossosomataceae (crossosoma), Crypteroniaceae, Cucurbitaceae (cucumber), Cunoniaceae (cunonia), Cuscutaceae (dodder), Cyrillaceae (cyrilla), Daphniphyllaceae, Datiscaceae (datisca), Davidsoniaceae, Degeneriaceae, Dialypetalanthaceae, Diapensiaceae (diapensia), Dichapetalaceae, Didiereaceae, Didymelaceae, Dilleniaceae (dillenia), Dioncophyllaceae, Dipentodontaceae, Dipsacaceae (teasel), Dipterocarpaceae (meranti), Donatiaceae, Droseraceae (sundew), Duckeodendraceae, Ebenaceae (ebony), Elaeagnaceae (oleaster), Elaeocarpaceae (elaeocarpus), Elatinaceae (waterwort), Empetraceae (crowberry), Epacridaceae (epacris), Eremolepidaceae (catkin-mistletoe), Ericaceae (heath), Erythroxylaceae (coca), Eucommiaceae, Eucryphiaceae, Euphorbiaceae (spurge), Eupomatiaceae, Eupteleaceae, Fabaceae (pea or legume), Fagaceae (beech), Flacourtiaceae (flacourtia), Fouquieriaceae (ocotillo), Frankeniaceae (frankenia), Fumariaceae (fumitory), Garryaceae (silk tassel), Geissolomataceae, Gentianaceae (gentian), Geraniaceae (geranium), Gesneriaceae (gesneriad), Globulariaceae, Gomortegaceae, Goodeniaceae (goodenia), Greyiaceae, Grossulariaceae (currant), Grubbiaceae, Gunneraceae (gunnera), Gyrostemonaceae, Haloragaceae (water milfoil), Hamamelidaceae (witch hazel), Hernandiaceae (hernandia), Himantandraceae, Hippocastanaceae (horse chestnut), Hippocrateaceae (hippocratea), Hippuridaceae (mare's tail), Hoplestigmataceae, Huaceae, Hugoniaceae, Humiriaceae, Hydnoraceae, Hydrangeaceae (hydrangea), Hydrophyllaceae (waterleaf), Hydrostachyaceae, Icacinaceae (icacina), Idiospermaceae, Illiciaceae (star anise), Ixonanthaceae, Juglandaceae (walnut), Julianiaceae, Krameriaceae (krameria), Lacistemataceae, Lamiaceae (mint, also Labiatae), Lardizabalaceae (lardizabala), Lauraceae (laurel), Lecythidaceae (brazil nut), Leeaceae, Leitneriaceae (corkwood), Lennoaceae (lennoa), Lentibulariaceae (bladderwort), Limnanthaceae (meadow foam), Linaceae (flax), Lissocarpaceae, Loasaceae (loasa), Loganiaceae (logania), Loranthaceae (showy mistletoe), Lythraceae (loosestrife), Magnoliaceae (magnolia), Malesherbiaceae, Malpighiaceae (barbados cherry), Malvaceae (mallow), Marcgraviaceae (shingle plant), Medusagynaceae, Medusandraceae, Melastomataceae (melastome), Meliaceae (mahogany), Melianthaceae, Mendonciaceae, Menispermaceae (moonseed), Menyanthaceae (buckbean), Mimosaceae, Misodendraceae, Mitrastemonaceae, Molluginaceae (carpetweed), Monimiaceae (monimia), Monotropaceae (Indian pipe), Moraceae (mulberry), Moringaceae (horseradish tree), Myoporaceae (myoporum), Myricaceae (bayberry), Myristicaceae (nutmeg), Myrothamnaceae, Myrsinaceae (myrsine), Myrtaceae (myrtle), Nelumbonaceae (lotus lily), Nepenthaceae (East Indian pitcherplant), Neuradaceae, Nolanaceae, Nothofagaceae, Nyctaginaceae (four-o'clock), Nymphaeaceae (water lily), Nyssaceae (sour gum), Ochnaceae (ochna), Olacaceae (olax), Oleaceae (olive), Oliniaceae, Onagraceae (evening primrose), Oncothecaceae, Opiliaceae, Orobanchaceae (broom rape), Oxalidaceae (wood sorrel), Paeoniaceae (peony), Pandaceae, Papaveraceae (poppy), Papilionaceae, Paracryphiaceae, Passifloraceae (passionflower), Pedaliaceae (sesame), Pellicieraceae, Penaeaceae, Pentaphragmataceae, Pentaphylacaceae, Peridiscaceae, Physenaceae, Phytolaccaceae (pokeweed), Piperaceae (pepper), Pittosporaceae (pittosporum), Plantaginaceae (plantain), Platanaceae (plane tree), Plumbaginaceae (leadwort), Podostemaceae (river weed), Polemoniaceae (phlox), Polygalaceae (milkwort), Polygonaceae (buckwheat), Portulacaceae (purslane), Primulaceae (primrose), Proteaceae (protea), Punicaceae (pomegranate), Pyrolaceae (shinleaf), Quiinaceae, Rafflesiaceae (rafflesia), Ranunculaceae (buttercup orranunculus), Resedaceae (mignonette), Retziaceae, Rhabdodendraceae, Rhamnaceae (buckthorn), Rhizophoraceae (red mangrove), Rhoipteleaceae, Rhynchocalycaceae, Rosaceae (rose), Rubiaceae (madder), Rutaceae (rue), Sabiaceae (sabia), Saccifoliaceae, Salicaceae (willow), Salvadoraceae, Santalaceae (sandalwood), Sapindaceae (soapberry), Sapotaceae (sapodilla), Sarcolaenaceae, Sargentodoxaceae, Sarraceniaceae (pitcher plant), Saururaceae (lizard's tail), Saxifragaceae (saxifrage), Schisandraceae (schisandra), Scrophulariaceae (figwort), Scyphostegiaceae, Scytopetalaceae, Simaroubaceae (quassia), Simmondsiaceae (jojoba), Solanaceae (potato), Sonneratiaceae (sonneratia), Sphaerosepalaceae, Sphenocleaceae (spenoclea), Stackhousiaceae (stackhousia), Stachyuraceae, Staphyleaceae (bladdernut), Sterculiaceae (cacao), Stylidiaceae, Styracaceae (storax), Surianaceae (suriana), Symplocaceae (sweetleaf), Tamaricaceae (tamarix), Tepuianthaceae, Tetracentraceae, Tetrameristaceae, Theaceae (tea), Theligonaceae, Theophrastaceae (theophrasta), Thymelaeaceae (mezereum), Ticodendraceae, Tiliaceae (linden), Tovariaceae, Trapaceae (water chestnut), Tremandraceae, Trigoniaceae, Trimeniaceae, Trochodendraceae, Tropaeolaceae (nasturtium), Turneraceae (turnera), Ulmaceae (elm), Urticaceae (nettle), Valerianaceae (valerian), Verbenaceae (verbena), Violaceae (violet), Viscaceae (Christmas mistletoe), Vitaceae (grape), Vochysiaceae, Winteraceae (wintera), Xanthophyllaceae, and Zygophyllaceae (creosote bush).

Where the plant is a monocotyledon, the monocotyledon can be selected from the group consisting of corn, wheat, oat, rice, barley, millet, banana, onion, garlic, asparagus, ryegrass, millet, fonio, raishan, nipa grass, turmeric, saffron, galangal, chive, cardamom, date palm, pineapple, shallot, leek, scallion, water chestnut, ramp, Job's tears, bamboo, ragi, spotless watermeal, arrowleaf elephant ear, Tahitian spinach, abaca, areca, bajra, betel nut, broom millet, broom sorghum, citronella, coconut, cocoyam, maize, dasheen, durra, durum wheat, edo, fique, formio, ginger, orchard grass, esparto grass, Sudan grass, guinea corn, Manila hemp, henequen, hybrid maize, jowar, lemon grass, maguey, bulrush millet, finger millet, foxtail millet, Japanese millet, proso millet, New Zealand flax, oats, oil palm, palm palmyra, sago palm, redtop, sisal, sorghum, spelt wheat, sweet corn, sweet sorghum, taro, teff, timothy grass, triticale, vanilla, wheat, and yam.

Alternatively, the monocotyledon can be from a family selected from the group consisting of Acoraceae (calamus), Agavaceae (century plant), Alismataceae (water plantain), Aloeaceae (aloe), Aponogetonaceae (cape pondweed), Araceae (arum), Arecaceae (palm), Bromeliaceae (bromeliad), Burmanniaceae (burmannia), Butomaceae (flowering rush), Cannaceae (canna), Centrolepidaceae, Commelinaceae (spiderwort), Corsiaceae, Costaceae (costus), Cyanastraceae, Cyclanthaceae (Panama hat), Cymodoceaceae (manatee grass), Cyperaceae (sedge), Dioscoreaceae (yam), Eriocaulaceae (pipewort), Flagellariaceae, Geosiridaceae, Haemodoraceae (bloodwort), Hanguanaceae (hanguana), Heliconiaceae (heliconia), Hydatellaceae, Hydrocharitaceae (tape grass), Iridaceae (iris), Joinvilleaceae (joinvillea), Juncaceae (rush), Juncaginaceae (arrow grass), Lemnaceae (duckweed), Liliaceae (lily), Limnocharitaceae (water poppy), Lowiaceae, Marantaceae (prayer plant), Mayacaceae (mayaca), Musaceae (banana), Najadaceae (water nymph), Orchidaceae (orchid), Pandanaceae (screw pine), Petrosaviaceae, Philydraceae (philydraceae), Poaceae (grass), Pontederiaceae (water hyacinth), Posidoniaceae (posidonia), Potamogetonaceae (pondweed), Rapateaceae, Restionaceae, Ruppiaceae (ditch grass), Scheuchzeriaceae (scheuchzeria), Smilacaceae (catbrier), Sparganiaceae (bur reed), Stemonaceae (stemona), Strelitziaceae, Taccaceae (tacca), Thurniaceae, Triuridaceae, Typhaceae (cattail), Velloziaceae, Xanthorrhoeaceae, Xyridaceae (yellow-eyed grass), Zannichelliaceae (horned pondweed), Zingiberaceae (ginger), and Zosteraceae (eelgrass).

Where the plant is a gymnosperm, the gymnosperm can be from a family selected from the group consisting of Araucariaceae, Boweniaceae, Cephalotaxaceae, Cupressaceae, Cycadaceae, Ephedraceae, Ginkgoaceae, Gnetaceae, Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae, Taxaceae, Taxodiaceae, Welwitschiaceae, and Zamiaceae.

EXAMPLES

The following non-limiting examples are provided to further illustrate the present invention.

Example 1. Use of a Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Member Displaying a Lipase or an Endoglucanase to Stimulate Plant Growth in Soybeans

The Bacillus subtilis lipase and endoglucanase genes were amplified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the following primers shown below in Table 3:

TABLE 3 lipase endoglucanase forward ggatccatggctgaacacaat ggatccatgaaacggtcaatc cc (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 39) reverse ggatccttaattcgtattctg ggatccttactaatttggttc gcc (SEQ ID NO: 38) tgt (SEQ ID NO: 40)

To create fusion constructs, genes were fused to the native bclA promoter of Bacillus thuringiensis DNA encoding the first 35 amino acids of BclA (amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO:1) using the splicing by overlapping extension (SOE) technique. Correct amplicons were cloned into the E. coli/Bacillus shuttle vector pHP13, and correct clones screened by DNA sequencing. Correct clones were electroporated into Bacillus thuringiensis (Cry-, plasmid-) and screened for chloramphenicol resistance. Correct transformants were grown in brain heart infusion broth overnight at 30° C., plated onto nutrient agar plates, and incubated at 30° C. for 3 days. Spores expressing the fusion construct (BEMD spores) were collected off of the plates by washing in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and purified by centrifugation and additional washes in PBS. Non-transformed control Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) spores were created identically.

Soybeans (strain Jake 011-28-04) were planted 2.54 cm deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. Spores were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/ml in 50 ml of water and applied to each seed at planting. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 11 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 15.5-25.5° C. Plants were watered to saturation every three days over a two week trial. At the end of two weeks, the height of each plant was measured and measurements were normalized to control Bacillus thuringiensis spores. Two independent trials were performed.

Results are shown in Table 4, together with the standard error of the mean. In both trials, soybeans grown in the presence of BEMD spores displaying either lipase or endoglucanase grew significantly taller than control B.t. spore treated soybeans (statistical analysis assayed via a t-test).

TABLE 4 Soybeans Avg. Height, Comparison Treatment cm to Control SEM Trial #1 Control Bt 14.034 100.0% .521 Lipase, BEMD 17.93 127.8% .395 Endocellulase, BEMD 16.31 116.2% .411 Trial #2 Control Bt 15.39 100.0% .749 Lipase, BEMD 19.15 124.4% .428 Endocellulase, BEMD 17.65 114.7% .313

Example 2. Use of a Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Member Displaying an Endoglucanase to Stimulate Plant Growth in Corn

BEMD spores expressing endoglucanase were created in an identical fashion as described above in Example 1. Field corn was planted 3.8 cm deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. Spores, control and BEMD expressing endoglucanase, were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/ml in 50 ml of water and applied to each plant at planting. A water-only control was also included. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 11 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 15.5-25.5° C. Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the one week trial. At the end of one week, the height of each plant was measured, and measurements were normalized to control Bacillus thuringiensis spores.

Results are shown in Table 5, together with the standard error of the mean. Corn grown in the presence of BEMD spores displaying endoglucanase grew significantly taller than both control B.t. spore treated soybeans and water-only control plants (statistical analysis assayed via a t-test).

TABLE 5 Height, cm Comparison SEM H₂O 15.44   100% 0.318 Bt 18.92 122.50% 0.645 BEMD Endo 22.71 143.40% 0.616

Example 3. Use of a Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Member Displaying an Endoglucanase or a Protease to Stimulate Plant Growth in Wheat

BEMD spores expressing endoglucanase were created in an identical fashion as described above in Example 1. BEMD spores expressing E. coli protease PtrB were created using similar methods to those described above in Example 1 and the following primers: ggatccatgctaccaaaagcc (forward, SEQ ID NO: 41) and ggatccttagtccgcaggcgtagc (reverse, SEQ ID NO: 42).

Winter hard wheat was planted 2.54 cm deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. Spores, control and BEMD expressing endoglucanase or protease, were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/ml in 50 ml of water and applied to each plant at planting. A water-only control was also included. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 11 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 15.5-25.5° C. Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the one week trial. At the end of one week, the height of each plant was measured, and measurements were normalized to control water only plants.

Results are shown in Table 6, together with the standard error of the mean. Wheat grown in the presence of BEMD spores displaying endoglucanase or protease grew significantly taller than control B.t. spore treated or water control soybeans (statistical analysis assayed via a t-test).

TABLE 6 Height, cm Comparison SEM H₂O 18.11   100% 0.721 Bt Control 19.96 110.33% 0.752 BEMD Endo 24.76 136.80% 0.21 BEMD 22.35 123.40% 0.354 Protease

Example 4. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying an Endoglucanase to Stimulate Plant Growth in Ryegrass

BEMD spores expressing endoglucanase were created in an identical fashion as described above in Example 1. Perennial ryegrass was planted 6.4 mm deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. Spores, both control and BEMD expressing endoglucanase, were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/ml in 50 ml of water and applied to each plant at planting. A water-only control was also included. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 11 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 15.5-25.5° C. Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the two week trial. At the end of two weeks, the height of each plant was measured, and measurements were normalized to control water only plants.

Results are shown in Table 7, together with the standard error of the mean. Ryegrass grown in the presence of BEMD spores displaying endocellulase grew significantly taller than control B.t. spore treated or water control ryegrass (statistical analysis assayed via a t-test).

TABLE 7 Height, cm Comparison SEM H₂O 11.43 100.0% 0.137 Bt Control 12.29 107.7% 0.128 BEMD 12.78 111.9% 0.137 Endo

Example 5. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Enzymes Involved in the Synthesis or Activation of Plant Hormones to Stimulate Plant Growth

The BEMD system can also be used to display enzymes involved in the synthesis of plant hormones. For example, the plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid is a potent growth stimulator in plants. Indole-3-acetic acid is synthesized in vivo from tryptophan by the enzymes tryptophan monooxygenase and indole-3-acetamide hydrolase. Indole-3-acetic acid and other auxin hormones can also be synthesized in vivo from tryptophan and/or indole by the enzymes nitrilase, tryptophan aminotransferase, indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase, amine oxidase, tryptophan decarboxylase, and tryptophan side chain oxidases.

The BEMD system can also be used to display enzymes involved in the modification of plant growth hormones into bioactive or inactive forms. For example, nitrilase can be expressed on the BEMD system to catalyze the conversion of indole-3-acetonitrile into the bioactive indole-3-acetic acid. Additionally, inactive forms of plant hormones, such as indole-3-acetonitrile can be added into the plant growth media with the BEMD-expressed nitrilase to provide a gradual release of active hormone into the plant growth media. Many other inactive or less active forms of plant hormones can be modified using their corresponding enzymes.

Related plant growth hormones (auxins) include indole-3-pyruvic acid, indole-3-acetaldoxime, indole-3-acetamide, indole-3-acetonitrile, indole-3-ethanol, indole-3-pyruvate, indole-3-butyric acid, phenylacetic acids, 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid, and indole-3-acetaldoxime. These hormones are synthesized from tryptophan and/or indole in vivo via the enzymes tryptophan monooxygenase, indole-3-acetamide hydrolase, nitrilase, nitrile hydrolase, acetolactate synthetase, alpha acetolactate decarboxylase, tryptophan aminotransferase, indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase, amine oxidase, tryptophan decarboxylase, and tryptophan side chain oxidases.

Growth hormones of the cytokinin family can also be synthesized by enzymes expressed in the BEMD system. Examples of cytokinins include kinetin, zeatin (cis and trans), 6-benzylaminopurine, dihydroxyzeatin, N6-(D2-isopentenyl) adenine, ribosylzeatin, N6-(D2-isopentenyl) adenosine, 2 methylthio-cis-ribosylzeatin, cis ribosylzeatin, ribosylzeatin-5-monosphosphate, N6-methylaminopurine, N6-dimethylaminopurine, 2′-deoxyzeatin riboside, 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-trans-2-butenylaminopurine, ortho-topolin, meta-topolin, benzyladenine, ortho-methyltopolin, and meta-methyltopolin. These plant growth stimulating compounds are synthesized in vivo from mevalonate or adenosine mono/di/triphosphate by enzymes including adenosine phosphate isopentenyltransferases, phosphatases, adenosine kinases, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, CYP735A, 5′ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, adenosine nucleosidases, zeatin cis-trans isomerase, zeatin O-glucosyltransferases, β-glucosidases, cis-hydroxylases, CK cis-hydroxylases, CK N-glucosyltransferases, 2,5-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolases, adenosine nucleosidases, purine nucleoside phosphorylases, and zeatin reductases.

Using methods similar to those described above in Example 1, any of these enzymes can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores by creating a fusion construct comprising the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the expressed enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. A recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing such a construct can then be added to the soil or other plant growth medium or applied directly to plant foliage using methods similar to those described above in Example 1 for stimulation of plant growth.

The plant growth medium can be supplemented with precursors or substrates for the enzymes. For example, the plant growth medium can be supplemented with tryptophan, adenosine monophosphates, adenosine diphosphates, adenosine triphosphates, or indole. Suitable concentrations of these substrates are between 100 nM and 100 μM.

Example 6. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Proteases or Peptidases that Cleave Proteins, Peptides, Proproteins, or Preproproteins into Bioactive Peptides for Stimulation of Plant Growth

Proteases and peptidases can be expressed in the BEMD system that can enzymatically cleave available proteins in the plant growth media to bioactive peptides that can act on the plant directly or indirectly. Examples include the enzymatic cleavage of soybean meal, yeast extract, or other protein rich meals added to the plant growth medium into active peptides that can directly stimulate plant growth. Bioactive peptides generated by enzymatic cleavage of protein meals include RHPP and RKN 16D10, potent stimulators of plant root development. Additionally, proproteins or preproproteins can be cleaved into active forms by BEMD-expressed proteases and peptidases to their bioactive forms. Inactive proproteins or preproproteins can be added in the plant growth medium to facilitate their gradual cleavage by BEMD proteases and slow release of bioactive proteins.

Using methods similar to those described above in Example 1, any of these proteases and peptidases can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores by creating a fusion construct comprising the protease or peptidase and a targeting sequence that targets the expressed enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. A recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing such a construct can then be added to soil or other plant growth medium supplemented with soybean meal, yeast extract, or another-protein-rich meal for stimulation of plant growth. The soybean meal, yeast extract, or other protein-rich meal is suitably added to the plant growth medium in the form of a liquid composition comprising about 10 g/L to about 100 mg/L of the protein meal, yeast extract, or other protein-rich meal.

Example 7. Use of BEMD Spores Expressing the Protease PtrB for Stimulation of Plant Growth

BEMD spores expressing E. coli protease PtrB were created as described above in Example 3. Soybean seeds were planted 2.54 cm deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. Spores, both control and BEMD expressing protease, were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/ml in 50 ml of water and applied to each plant at planting. A water-only control was also included. Soybean meal at 25 mg/pot was added in water at planting. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 13 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 15.5-25.5° C. Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the one week trial. At the end of two weeks, the height of each plant was measured, and measurements were normalized to control water only plants.

Results are shown in Table 8, together with the standard error of the mean as a percentage of water control. Soy grown in the presence of BEMD spores displaying protease grew significantly taller than control B.t. spore treated or water control soybeans (statistical analysis assayed via a t-test). The addition of soybean meal to water control or B. thuringiensis control plants had little effect. By contrast, in the presence of the soybean meal and the BEMD protease system, the soybean plants responded significantly over all other treatments.

TABLE 8 SEM, as Soybean Height Normalized percentage Treatment Meal (cm) to water of water Water only No 12.10   100% 3.1% Water only 25 mg/pot 12.43 102.7% 7.4% B. thuringiensis No 12.52 103.5% 5.2% B. thuringiensis 25 mg/pot 11.99  99.1% 5.0% BEMD Protease No 12.97 107.2% 6.1% BEMD Protease 25 mg/pot 14.44 119.3% 4.8%

Example 8. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Proteins or Peptides Involved in the Stimulation of Plant Growth

The BEMD system can also be used to display proteins or peptides that are directly involved in the promotion of plant growth. For example, plant peptide hormones or non-hormone peptides that stimulate plant growth can be expressed in the BEMD system. For example, non-hormone peptides that directly bind to and active plant receptors can be expressed in the BEMD system to directly act on receptors in the plant and roots of target plants. Such peptide hormones and non-hormone peptides include phytosulfokine, calcalva 3 (CLV3), systemin, RKN 16D10, Hg-Syv46, eNOD40, NOD family proteins, Zm1GF, SCR/SP11 family proteins and peptides, RHPP, POLARIS, and KTI. These peptides and related peptides can be expressed in the BEMD system and delivered to plant growth medium or directly applied to foliage to stimulate plant growth.

Using methods similar to those described above in Example 1, any of these proteins or peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores by creating a fusion construct comprising the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the expressed enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. A recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing such a construct can then be added to the soil or other plant growth medium or applied directly to plant foliage using methods similar to those described above in Example 1 for stimulation of plant growth.

Example 9. Use of BEMD Spores Expressing POLARIS or KTI for Stimulation of Plant Growth

BEMD spores expressing the plant peptide POLARIS and soy peptide KTI were created by synthesizing genes coding for the POLARIS or KIT peptides linked to the targeting sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60. The genes were then introduced genes into Bacillus thuringiensis and spores were made as described in Example 1. Soybean seeds were planted 2.54 cm deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. BEMD spores expressing POLARIS or KTI were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/ml in 50 ml of water and applied to each plant at planting. A water-only control was also included. Pure POLARIS and KTI peptides were also tested for their effects on soybeans at 0.05 mg/pot. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 13 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 15.5-25.5° C. Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the two week trial. At the end of two weeks, the height of each plant was measured, the roots measured, and measurements were normalized to control water only plants.

Results are shown in Table 9, together with the standard error of the mean as a percentage of water control. Soy grown in the presence of BEMD spores displaying POLARIS grew taller and had a slight increase in root development than water control soybeans. The presence of free KTI peptide led to a significant stunting of the plants, losing between 6-8% of their heights, but adding 15% to the length of the roots. Expression of KTI on the BEMD system led to the root growth benefit, but without the stunting effect on the plant height. Importantly, the presence of the Bacillus thuringiensis control spores with the free KTI peptide did not prevent the stunting effect of KTI, while the BEMD with KTI displayed no such stunting.

TABLE 9 Roots Height, Normalized Normalized Treatment Peptide to Water SEM to Water SEM Water No   100% 6.8%   100% 4.3% Water KTI,   115% 8.4%  91.8% 3.1% 0.05 mg/Pot BEMD No 106.3% 7.9% 107.3% 1.7% POLARIS BEMD KTI No 113.3% 5.8%  99.4% 3.4% B. thuringiensis KTI,   115% 7.7%  93.4% 4.2% 0.05 mg/pot

Example 10. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Enzymes that Degrade or Modify a Bacterial, Fungal, or Plant Nutrient Source to Stimulate Plant Growth and/or Process Nutrients

The BEMD system can also be used to display enzymes that degrade or modify beneficially a bacterial, fungal, or plant nutrient source present in soil or another plant growth medium. Such enzymes degrade products present in the soil or other plant growth medium into forms that can easily be taken up by plants and/or the beneficial bacteria and/or fungi of the rhizosphere. Such enzymes include, for example, glucoside hydrolases to degrade complex carbohydrates, cellulases to degrade cellulose; lipases to degrade lipids, including oil, fats, and waxes; lignin oxidases to degrade lignin and humic acids; proteases to degrade polypeptides; phospholipases to degrade membranes; amidases and nitrogenases to recover nitrogen; amylases to process starches; nucleases to recover nucleotides, pectinases to break down pectin, sulfatases to recover sulfur, and xylanases to break down xylans and arabinoxylans. The resultant products, including simple sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and other nutrients will be readily available for direct uptake by plants and/or for stimulating beneficial bacteria and/or fungi to grow and thrive in the rhizospheres of the plants.

In addition, enzymes and other biological molecules can be utilized to release or sequester phosphate, nitrogen, and other key elemental nutrients for plant uptake from their various organic and inorganic forms in soil. For example, phosphatases can be used to degrade phosphates in the environment into usable inorganic phosphates for plant use. The phosphates can be naturally occurring phosphates present in a plant growth medium. Alternatively or in addition, the plant growth medium can be supplemented with phosphates such as trimetaphosphate, a common agricultural amendment. Examples of useful phosphatases include phosphoric monoester hydrolases, phosphomonoesterases, phosphoric diester hydrolases, phosphodiesterases, triphosphoric monoester hydrolases, phosphoryl anhydride hydrolases, pyrophosphatases, phytase, trimetaphosphatases, and triphosphatases. For example, the enzymes trimetaphosphatase, triphosphatase, and pyrophosphatase sequentially break down trimetaphosphate into usable inorganic phosphate.

The nitrogenase family of enzymes converts atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia, thereby converting nitrogen that would otherwise be inaccessible to plants into a usable form. Suitable enzymes belong to the Nif family of nitrogenases.

Chemical energy can also be directly added into the plant growth medium as adenosine-3-triphosphate, ferrodoxin, or additional enzymes that create such energy into the BEMD system. These are cofactors for the nitrogenases and are limited in soil. Thus, such cofactors can be added to soil to enhance the reactions described above.

Other supplements that can be added to the plant growth medium include starches, cellulose and cellulose derivatives, pectins, xylans and arabinoxylans, fats, waxes, oils, phytic acids, lignins, humic acids, and other nutrient sources that the above enzyme classes exert activity upon.

Using methods similar to those described above in Example 1, any of these enzymes can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores by creating a fusion construct comprising the enzyme and a targeting sequence for targeting the fusion construct to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct can then be expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and this recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can be added to soil or another plant growth medium using methods similar to those described above in Example 1 for stimulation of plant growth.

Example 11. Use of BEMD Spores Expressing a Phosphatase for Stimulation of Plant Growth

BEMD spores expressing Bacillus subtilis Phosphatase A4 (PhoA4) were created by synthesizing a gene coding for PhoA4 linked to the targeting sequence of SEQ ID NO: 60. This gene was then introduced into Bacillus thuringiensis and spores were made as in Example 1. Corn was planted 2.54 cm deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. BEMD spores expressing PhoA4, were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/ml in 50 ml of water and applied to each plant at planting. A water-only control was also included. Polyphosphate was added to pots in liquid at a rate of 0.5 mg/pot. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 13 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 15.5-25.5° C. Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the two week trial. At the end of two weeks, the height of each plant was measured, and measurements were normalized to control water only plants.

Results are shown in Table 10. Corn grown in the presence of BEMD spores displaying PhoA4 exhibit enhanced growth, especially in the presence of added polyphosphate. This effect was greater than the effect of the polyphosphate alone.

TABLE 10 Treatment Additive Growth, Comparison to Water Water None   100% Water Polyphosphate 110.8% BEMD PhoA4 None 108.3% BEMD PhoA4 Polyphosphate 114.8%

Example 12. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Enzymes Involved in the Synthesis of 2,3-Butanediol or the Synthesis or Activation of Gibberellic Acid for Stimulation of Plant Growth

The BEMD system can also be used display enzymes involved in the synthesis of the plant-growth promoting compound 2,3-butanediol. In vivo, 2,3-butanediol is synthesized by beneficial bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere from acetoin, diacetyl, acetolactate, or pyruvate by the enzymes acetolactate synthetase, α-acetolactate decarboxylase, pyruvate decarboxylase, diacetyl reductase, butanediol dehydrogenases, and acetoin reductase.

The BEMD system can also be used to display enzymes involved in the synthesis or activation of the plant-growth promoting compound gibberellic acid. Gibberellic acid can be produced from inactive or less active forms via the action of enzymes, including but not limited to hydroxylamine reductases, 2-oxogluturate dioxygenases, gibberellin 2B/3B hydrolases, gibberellin 3-oxidases, and gibberellin 20-oxidases.

Any of these enzymes can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium for stimulation of plant growth.

To increase the effect of the enzymes displayed on BEMD, the soil can be supplemented with substrates for the enzymes. For example, the soil or other plant growth medium can be supplemented with acetoin, which is a substrate for acetoin reductase; pyruvate, which is a substrate for pyruvate decarboxylase; diacetyl, which is a substrate for diacetyl reductase; and/or acetolactate, which is a substrate for acetolactate decarboxylase. Alternatively or in addition, the soil or other plant growth medium can be supplemented with less potent or inactive forms of gibberellic acid, which will converted into more active forms by the enzymes described above in the soil or other plant growth medium.

Example 13. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Proteases for Protecting Plants from Pathogens

The BEMD system can also be used display proteases that protect plants from one or more pathogens. For example, certain bacterial pathogens can communicate between individual members via secretion of bacterial lactone homoserines or related signaling molecules. Thus, proteases specific for bacterial lactone homoserine signaling molecules can protect plants from such bacterial pathogens by disrupting communication between bacteria, a step essential for the bacteria to secrete toxins and upregulate virulence factors. Suitable proteases specific for bacterial lactone homoserine signaling molecules include endopeptidases and exopeptidases.

Proteases specific for bacterial lactone homoserine signaling molecules can be incorporated into the BEMD system using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the protease and a targeting sequence that targets the protease to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium. The protease can then degrade the bacterial lactone homoserine signaling molecules, blocking a key step in the virulence of these organisms and thereby helping to protect the plant from these pathogens. Other proteases and peptidases work effectively in this capacity on the BEMD system as demonstrated above in Example 6 and 7.

Example 14. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Antimicrobial Proteins and Peptides for Protecting Plants from Pathogens

The BEMD system can also be used display enzymes that exhibit antibacterial and/or antifungal activities that can help protect plants from one or more pathogens. For example, antimicrobial proteins and peptides such as bacteriocins, lysozymes (e.g., LysM), siderophores, conalbumin, albumin, lactoferrins (e.g., LfcinB), or TasA can all be expressed in the BEMD system to exert their effect on bacterial and fungal pathogens of plants. Bacteriocins, albumin, conalbumin, lysozymes, and lactoferrin exert direct antimicrobial action on their targets, whereas siderophores bind essential nutrients that pathogens require for virulence. For example, the peptide LfcinB of lactoferrin, when expressed on the surface of the BEMD system would lyse bacteria cells that are susceptible to the lactoferrin peptides in the plant growth medium. These proteins and peptides have specific action on select microbes, and can selectively target a group of pathogens without obstructing all microbes in the plant growth medium.

Any of these proteins or peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium for protection of plants from one or more pathogens.

Example 15. Use of BEMD Spores Expressing Antimicrobial Peptides for Protecting Plants from Bacteria

Genes were synthesized that coded for either of two antimicrobial peptides, LfcinB (derived from bovine lactoferrin) and LysM (derived from chicken lysozyme), linked to a BclA targeting sequence (SEQ ID NO: 60), under the control of the BclA promoter (SEQ ID NO: 85). The genes were introduced into Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A and spores were made by growing an overnight culture of the transformed Bacillus in brain heart infusion broth, plating onto nutrient agar plates at 30° C. and allowing to grow for 3 days. Spores were washed off the plates and rinsed 3× in PBS. Staphylococcus epidermidis cultures were grown overnight in TSB broth at 37° C. The overnight culture was then pelleted, washed in PBS, and resuspended in PBS at an Abs595=0.2. 1×10⁴. BEMD expressing the LysM or LfcinB peptides was incubated in the PBS with the S. epidermidis for 3 hours at 37° C., with shaking. A control sample of S. epidermidis was left untreated (no BEMD spores). After the 3 hour incubation, dilution plates of the S. epidermidis were made and incubated at 37° C. overnight. S. epidermidis cultures were counted the next day, and percent killing quantified. In Table 11 below, a record of the killing activity was recorded. The BEMD expressed peptides killed a significant number of S. epidermidis cells. This would directly translate into killing of bacteria on the rhizosphere, seed, or other plant material. The selection of peptides specific to certain classes of bacteria can also skew the population of the microorganisms near the plant in a beneficial way, or can selectively target key pathogens.

TABLE 11 Treatment Survival % Killed None 100%  0% BEMD LysM  71% 29% BEMD LfcinB  23% 77%

Example 16. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Enzymes for Protecting Plants from Pathogens

The BEMD system can also be used display enzymes that protect plants from one or more pathogens. For example, yeast and mold cell walls are degraded by enzymes such as β-1,3-glucanases, β-1,4-glucanases, β-1,6-glucanases, chitosinases, chitinases, chitosinase-like proteins, and lyticases. Bacteria cell walls are degraded by enzymes selected from proteinases, proteases, mutanolysin, stapholysin, and lysozymes. Each of these cell wall degrading enzymes can be expressed on the BEMD system and added to plant growth medium for selective inhibition of pathogenic microbes in the rhizosphere.

The BEMD system can also be used to display enzymes or proteins that protect plants from insect or worm pathogens, for example by suppressing insect and/or worm predation of desired plants. Examples of such proteins and enzymes of interest include endotoxins, Cry toxins, other insecticidal protein toxins, protease inhibitors, cysteine proteases, the Cry5B protein, the Cry 21A protein, chitinase, protease inhibitor proteins, protease inhibitor peptides, trypsin inhibitors, and arrowhead protease inhibitors.

Any of these proteins or peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium for protection of plants from pathogens.

Example 17. Use of BEMD Spores Expressing an Antifungal Enzyme for Protecting Plants, and Demonstration of Efficacy Against Saccharomyces

A gene was synthesized that encoded an antifungal enzyme, β-1,3-glucanase from Bacillus subtilis, linked to a BclA targeting sequence (SEQ ID NO: 60) under the control of the BclA promoter (SEQ ID NO: 85). The gene was and introduced into Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A and pores were made by growing an overnight culture of the transformed Bacillus in brain heart infusion broth, plating onto nutrient agar plates at 30° C., and allowing to grow for 3 days. Spores were washed off the plates and rinsed 3× in PBS. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultures were grown overnight in YZ broth at 37° C. The overnight culture was then pelleted, washed in PBS, and resuspended in PBS at an Abs595=0.2. 1×10⁴ BEMD expressing β-1,3-glucanase was incubated in the PBS with the Saccharomyces for 1 hour at 37° C., with shaking. A control sample of Saccharomyces was left untreated (no BEMD spores). After the 3 hour incubation, dilution plates of the Saccharomyces were made and incubated at 37° C. overnight. Saccharomyces cultures were counted the next day, and percent killing quantified. In Table 12 below shows the killing activity of the BEMD spores expressing β-1,3-glucanase. The BEMD-expressed enzyme killed a significant number of Saccharomyces cells. This would directly translate into killing of fungal microorganisms on the rhizosphere, seed, or other plant material. The selection of proteins specific to certain classes of fungi can also skew the population of the microorganisms near the plant in a beneficial way, or can selectively target key fungal pathogens.

TABLE 12 Treatment Survival % Killed None 100%  0% BEMD β-1,3-glucanase  83% 17%

Example 18. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Plant Immune System Stimulatory Peptides or Proteins for Protecting Plants from Pathogens

The BEMD system can also be used display plant immune system enhancer peptides and proteins. These proteins can be expressed on the outside of the BEMD spore and delivered into the plant growth medium to stimulate the plant immune system to allow the plant to protect itself from plant pathogens. Example proteins and peptides include harpin, α-elastins, β-elastins, systemins, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, elicitins, defensins, cryptogein, and flagellin proteins and peptides. Exposure of plants to these proteins and peptides will stimulate resistance to many plant pathogens in plants.

Any of these proteins or peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium for protection of plants from pathogens.

Example 19. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying a Root or Leaf Binding Protein or Peptide to Immobilize the Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Member on a Root System of a Plant or on Plant Leaves

Root and leaf binding proteins and peptides can also be incorporated into the BEMD system to allow the BEMD spores to be immobilized on a root system or on leaves of a plant. Display of such root or leaf binding ligands on the BEMD spores allows for targeting of the spores to the root system of a plant or to substructures of the root system or to the leaves or to substructures of leaves to maintain the BEMD spores at an optimal location for other displayed biological molecules and enzymes to be effective.

For example, rhicadhesin is a root binding ligand that binds to root hairs. Thus, display of rhicadhesin on the BEMD spores thus targets the spores to root hairs. Additional proteins that could be utilized for selective binding to plant roots or leaves include adhesins, flagellin, omptins, lectins, pili proteins, curlus proteins, intimins, invasins, agglutinin, afimbrial proteins, TasA, or YuaB.

Such root or leaf binding proteins and peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the root or leaf binding protein or peptide and a targeting sequence that targets the protein or peptide to the exosporium when the construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct containing the root or leaf binding ligand is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. Such fusion constructs can be coexpressed with one or more additional fusion constructs comprising any of the beneficial enzymes discussed herein (e.g., an enzyme involved in the synthesis of a plant hormone, an enzyme that degrades a nutrient source, or a proteases that protects a plant from a pathogen). The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium, or applied to the leaves of a plant. The root or leaf binding ligand targets the Bacillus cereus family member to the root system of the plant or to the leaves of the plant and immobilizes it there, thus allowing the coexpressed fusion construct to exert its effects in close proximity to the root or leaf system.

Example 20. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Proteins or Enzymes to Enhance Stress Resistance of Plants

Proteins, peptides, and enzymes that enhance stress resistance in a plant can be incorporated into the BEMD system and delivered to target plants via addition to roots, leaves, or the plant growth medium. During periods of stress, plants release stress-related compounds, including aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), reactive oxygen species, and others, resulting in a negative impact on plant growth. The BEMD system can be used to display enzymes that degrade such stress-related compounds, such as aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase, superoxide dismutases, oxidases, catalases, and other enzymes that act on reactive oxygen species. Such enzymes reduce the amount of these stress-related compounds and allow plants to continue to grow and even thrive under stressed conditions.

Any of these proteins or peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or to another plant growth medium or applied to the leaves of a plant for enhancing the stress resistance of a target plant.

Example 21. Preparation of BEMD Spores Expressing the Protective Enzyme Catalase

A gene was synthesized that encoded the protective enzyme catalase from Bacillus cereus linked to a BetA targeting sequence (SEQ ID NO: 61) under the control of the BetA promoter (SEQ ID NO: 86). This gene was and introduced into Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A. Spores were made by growing an overnight culture of the transformed Bacillus and wildtype strain in brain heart infusion broth, plating onto nutrient agar plates at 30° C., and allowing to grow for 3 days. Spores were washed off the plates and rinsed 3× in PBS. 3 drops of hydrogen peroxide was added to each spore pellet. The enzyme catalase converts the hydrogen peroxide into water and O₂ gas. The control spores did not bubble, while the BEMD-catalase spores readily did, demonstrating enzyme activity on the surface of the spores. Other protective enzymes can be displayed in a similar fashion and delivered to the plant to act upon free radicals produced during stress by the plants.

Example 22. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Proteins or Enzymes that Protect Seeds or Plants from an Environmental Stress

Proteins, peptides, and enzymes that protect a plant from an environmental stress can be incorporated into the BEMD system and delivered to target plants via addition to roots, leaves, fruit, or the plant growth medium. During periods of freezing, plants can be damaged by the effect of ice. The BEMD system can be used to display peptides, proteins, or enzymes that protect plants from such effects. For example, the BEMD system can be used to display choline dehydrogenases, which act by producing protective products that protect the plant or seed from frost. Substrates for these enzymes (e.g., choline and/or choline derivatives) can also be added to the plant growth medium. Addition of such substrates can enhance the amount of protectant (betaine and related chemistries) produced in the plant environment by the BEMD expressed enzymes. Betaine derivatives are known to protect seeds from cold stress.

Any of these proteins or peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or to another plant growth medium or applied to the leaves of a plant for protecting the plant from environmental stresses and factors.

Example 23. Enhanced Expression of Fusion Constructs on the BEMD System by Use of Enhanced or Alternative Promoter Elements

The BEMD system can display a wide range of proteins, peptides, and enzymes using one or more of the targeting sequences described herein. Some of these targeting sequences have a high affinity for the exosporium which would be beneficial for fusion protein expression, but their low fusion protein expression level limits their use on the BEMD system. For such fusion proteins and sequences, alternative high-expression sporulation promoters can be used instead of the native promoters.

For example, SEQ ID NO: 13 (amino acids 1-39 of B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 gene 3572) provides a very effective N-terminal sequence for the delivery of proteins to the exosporium of Bacillus cereus family members, as shown in Table 13 below. All genes were synthesized in their complete form (including promoter regions and regions coding for fusion proteins) as described herein. When the native promoter elements for B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 gene 3572 (SEQ ID NO: 88) were used to express a fusion protein comprising the targeting sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 fused to a β-galactosidase enzyme (from E. coli), a low level of fusion protein was expressed, leading to a reduction in enzyme activity on the surface of the spore. Enzyme activity was measure by the conversion of 0.5M o-nitrophenylgalactoside in solution over 10 minutes. Enzyme conversion was measured with a spectrophotometer at ABS₅₄₀. Replacement of the native promoter elements of the B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 gene 3572 with the high-expression promoters of SEQ ID NO: 86 (B. anthracis BetA/BAS3290) or SEQ ID NO: 89 (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 YVTN β-propeller protein) led to a dramatic increase in the enzymatic activity of the spores. On the other hand, replacement of the native promoter elements for B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 gene 3572 with the promoter native to B. anthracis Sterne BAS1882 (SEQ ID NO: 87) led to a decrease in the enzymatic activity of the spores. The expression level of the targeting sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 fused to 3-galactosidase was much lower (0.38×) when driven by the promoter of BAS1882 (SEQ ID NO: 87), and was greatly improved when driven from the BetA promoter (SEQ ID NO: 86) or YVTN protein promoter (SEQ ID NO: 89).

TABLE 13 β-galactosidase activity on BEMD system, Fold Promoter Fusion Protein normalized Change SEQ ID NO:  SEQ ID NO: 13 -   100% 88 β-galactosidase SEQ ID NO:  SEQ ID NO: 13 - 213.4% 2.13X 86 β-galactosidase SEQ ID NO:  SEQ ID NO: 13 - 220.7% 2.21X 89 β-galactosidase SEQ NO: ID  SEQ ID NO: 13 -  38.1% 0.38X 87 β-galactosidase

Example 24. Isolation and Identification of Plant-Growth Promoting Bacterial Strains

Soil samples from rhizospheres of the healthiest and most resistant potato (Solanum tuberosum), yellow summer squash (Cucurbita pepo), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and pole bean (Phaseolus coccineus) plants were collected, diluted in sterile water, and spread onto nutrient agar plates. Bacterial isolates that demonstrated high growth rates and were able to be passaged and propagated were selected for further study. The selected strains were grown in minimal media (KH₂PO₄ 3 g, Na₂HPO₄ 6 g, NH₄Cl 1 g, NaCl 0.50 g, MgSO₄ 7H₂O 0.15 g, CaCl₂ 2H₂O 0.013 g, and glucose 1 g, per L dry weight). Overnight cultures (30° C.) of selected strains were spun down, media decanted off, and resuspended in an equal amount of distilled water. Ten lettuce seeds per treatment were planted at a depth of 1 cm in loam top soil (Columbia, MO) that was sieved to remove large debris. Seeds were inoculated at planting in 4 cm pots with 0.5 μl of resuspended bacteria in water mixed into 10 ml of H₂O. Ten ml of H₂O was sufficient to deliver the bacteria into the 3 in³ (7.62 cm³) of soil as well as saturate the soil for proper germination of seeds. Plants were grown at temperatures between 65-75° F. (18-24° C.) with 11 hours of light/day, and 5 ml of watering every 3 days. After one week, plant heights and leaf diameters, as well as overall health of the plants were collected. Initial screening of rhizosphere isolates resulted in obtaining greater than 200 distinct species of bacteria and fungi from the rhizosphere of the four plants. Some of the bacterial species are described in Table 14. Identified strains are indicated by their proper bacterial identifications. Other strains are indicated by their unknown identification number. Inoculants giving results near control (+/−2%) were not included in the table.

TABLE 14 Butterhead Lettuce Bacterial Inoculant Avg. Height (cm) Comparison SEM Uninoculated 1.8 Control .07 Paracoccus kondratiavae 2 111.1% .05 NC35 B. aryabhattai CAP53 3.65 202.8% .45 B. flexus BT054 2.45 136.1% .11 Bacillus mycoides strain 2.17 120.4% .21 BT155 B. aryabhattai CAP56 2.1 116.7% .20 B. nealsonii BOBA57 2.8 155.6% .03 E. cloacae CAP12 2.4 133.3% .41 Unknown 8  1.77 77.8% .65 Unknown 122 1.9 105.6% .11 Unknown 15  1.4 77.8% .41 Unknown 39  1.8 100.0% .20 Unknown 401 2 111.1% .21 Unknown 402 1.53 85.2% .27 Unknown 41  1.45 80.6% .31 Unknown 42  1.4 77.8% .15 Unknown 44  2.2 133.3% .08 Unknown 51  1.83 102.9% .21

Bacterial strains that produced the greatest effect on the overall plant health and plant height in the initial lettuce trial were subjected to further identification. Bacterial strains were grown overnight in Luria Bertani broth at 37° C., and overnight cultures were spun down in acentrifuge. Media was decanted and the remaining bacterial pellet was subjected to chromosomal DNA isolation using the Qiagen Bacterial Chromosomal DNA Isolation kit. Chromosomal DNA was subjected to PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA coding regions using the primers E338F 5′-ACT CCT ACG GGA GGC AGC AGT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 122), E1099R A 5′-GGG TTG CGC TCG TTG C-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 123), and E1099R B5′-GGG TTG CGC TCG TTA C-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 124). PCR amplicons were purified using aPromega PCR purification kit, and the resultant amplicons were diluted and sent to the University of Missouri DNA Core for DNA sequencing. DNA sequences were compared to the NCBI BLAST database of bacterial isolates, and genus and species were identified by direct comparison to known strains. Top identified species are indicated in Table 14. In many cases, 16 rRNA DNA sequences were only able to delineate the genus of the selected bacterial strain. In cases where a direct identification was not forthcoming, additional biochemistry analyses, using methods standard in the field, were performed to differentiate strains at the species and strain levels, and are listed in Table 15.

TABLE 15 E. cloacae P. kondratiavae B. aryabhattai B. flexus B. mycoides B. aryabhattai B. nealsoni Test CAP12 NC35 CAP53 BT054 BT155 CAP56 BOBA57 Urease − − − − − − + Catalase + + + + + + + Oxidase − + + + − − − Nitrate + + − + + − + Growth, 5% NaCl + − + + − + + Growth, 7.5% NaCl − − + + − + − Growth, 42° C. + + + + + + + Growth, 50° C. − − + + − + − Growth, pH 5 + − + + − + − Growth, pH 9 + + + + + + + Acid, Cellobiose + − + + + + − Acid, Lactose + − + + + − + Acid, Starch − − − + − + −

Example 25. Isolation and Identification of Additional Plant-Growth Promoting Bacterial Strains

Soil samples from agricultural fields near Gas, Kansas were collected, diluted in sterile water, and spread onto nutrient agar plates. Bacterial isolates that demonstrated high growth rates and were able to be passaged and propagated were selected for further study. The selected strains were grown in minimal media (KH₂PO₄ 3 g, Na₂HPO₄ 6 g, NH₄Cl g, NaCl 0.50 g, MgSO₄ 7H₂O 0.15 g, CaCl₂ 2H₂O 0.013 g, and glucose 1 g, per L dry weight). Overnight cultures (30° C.) of selected strains were spun down, media decanted off, and resuspended in an equal amount of distilled water. Corn seeds were coated with commercial seed polymer mixed with water alone (1.6 μl per seed total) or commercial seed polymer containing selected bacterial strains (1.6 μl per seed total). Coated seeds were planted in (3 inch) 7.62 cm diameter pots at a depth of 1 inch (2.54 cm) in loam top soil (Columbia, MO) that was sieved to remove large debris. Plants were grown at temperatures between 18-24° C. (65-75° F.) with 11 hours of light/day, and 50 ml of watering at planting and every 3 days. After two weeks, plant heights and leaf diameters, as well as overall health of the plants were collected. For germination assays and determining 3 day root length, seeds were coated as indicated above and evenly dispersed at 10 seeds per paper towel. The paper towels were wetted with 10 mls of water, rolled up, placed in a small plastic bag and incubated at 30° C. or placed on a germination heat mat at 27-30° C. (80-85° F.). Root measurements were recorded after 3 days. Initial screening of rhizosphere isolates resulted in obtaining greater than 100 distinct species of bacteria and fungi from the rhizosphere. Some of the bacterial species are described in Table 16. Identified strains are indicated by their proper bacterial identifications.

TABLE 16 Corn Seed Treatments Avg. Height Avg. Root Length (2 weeks) (3 days) normalized to normalized to polymer control polymer control Bacterial Inoculant (%) (%) Polymer control 100 100 B. mycoides EE118 111.1 189.1 B. subtilis EE148 99.4 172.8 Alcaligenes faecalis EE107 111.5 129.2 B. mycoides EE141 109.2 143.5 B. mycoides BT46-3 105.6 141.3 B. cereus family member EE128 105.6 — B. thuringiensis BT013A 101.8 103.8 Paenibacillus massiliensis BT23 104.2 139.4 B. cereus family member EE349 105.2 — B. subtilis EE218 106.6 — B. megaterium EE281 107.8 —

Bacterial strains that produced the greatest effect on plant health are described in Table 16. Bacterial strains were grown overnight in Luria Bertani broth at 37° C., and overnight cultures were spun down in a centrifuge. Media was decanted and the remaining bacterial pellet was subjected to chromosomal DNA isolation using the Qiagen Bacterial Chromosomal DNA Isolation kit. Chromosomal DNA was subjected to PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA coding regions using the primers E338F 5′-ACT CCT ACG GGA GGC AGC AGT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 122), E1099R A5′-GGG TTG CGC TCG TTG C-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 123), and E1099R B5′-GGG TTG CGC TCG TTA C-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 124). PCR amplicons were purified using aPromega PCR purification kit, and the resultant amplicons were diluted and sent totheUniversity of Missouri DNA Core for DNA sequencing. DNA sequences were compared to the NCBI BLAST database of bacterial isolates, and genus and species were identified by direct comparison to known strains. Top identified species are indicated in Table 16. In many cases, 16S rRNA DNA sequences were only able to delineate the genus of the selected bacterial strain. In cases where a direct identification was not forthcoming, additional biochemistry analyses, using methods standard in the field, were performed to differentiate strains at the species and strain levels, and the differentiated strains are listed in Table 17.

TABLE 17 B. cereus B. cereus B. family B. B. B. Paenibacillus B. Alcaligenes B. family B. thuringiensis member subtilis subtilis megaterium massiliensis mycoides faecalis mycoides member mycoides Test BT013A EE349 EE148 EE218 EE281 BT23 BT46-3 EE107 EE118 EE128 EE141 Motility + + + + + + − + − − − Rhizoid − − − − − + + − + − + Colony Catalase + + + + + + + + + + + Oxidase + − − − − − − + − − − Nitrate + + wk − − − + + + + + Growth, + wk − + + − + + − + − 5% NaCl Growth, wk − − + + − − − − − − 7.5% NaCl Growth, − + + + + + + + − + − 42° C. Growth, − − − − − − − − − − − 50° C. Growth, wk − + + + − wk + − + − pH 5 Growth, + + − + + − wk + + + − pH 9 Acid, − − wk + − + + wk + − wk Cellobiose Acid, − + + + + − + + − + wk Lactose Acid, − + − + + − + wk + + − Starch wk = weak growth or low growth

Example 26. Testing of Plant-Growth Promoting Bacterial Strains on Alfalfa

The selected strains were grown in minimal media (KH₂PO₄ 3 g, Na₂HPO₄ 6 g, NH₄Cl 1 g, NaCl 0.50 g, MgSO₄ 7H₂O 0.15 g, CaCl₂ 2H₂O 0.013 g, and glucose 1 g, per L dry weight). Overnight cultures (30° C.) of selected strains were spun down, media decanted off, and bacteria resuspended in an equal amount of distilled water. Ten Zeba-coated alfalfa seeds were planted for each treatment at a depth of 0.6 cm in loam top soil (Columbia, MO) that was sieved to remove large debris. Seeds were inoculated at planting with 0.5 μl of resuspended bacteria in water mixed into 10 ml of H₂O. Ten ml of H₂O was sufficient to deliver the bacteria into the 3 in³ (7.62 cm³) of soil as well as saturate the soil for proper germination of seeds. Plants were grown at temperatures between 65-75° F. (18-24° C.) with 11 hours of light/day, and 5 ml of watering every 3 days. Alfalfa was allowed to grow for 1 week to analyze emergence and initial outgrowth of plants under described conditions. Identified strains indicated by their proper bacterial identifications and final height data are listed in Table 18.

TABLE 18 Alfalfa Avg. Height Bacterial Inoculant (cm) Comparison SEM Uninoculated 4.82 — .008 B. aryabhattai CAP56 4.85 101.20% .016 B. nealsonii BOBA57 4.86 101.70% .021 E. cloacae CAP12 5.6 116.23% .020

Example 27. Testing of Plant-Growth Promoting Bacterial Strains on Cucumbers

The selected strains were grown in minimal media (KH₂PO₄ 3 g, Na₂HPO₄ 6 g, NH₄Cl 1 g, NaCl 0.50 g, MgSO₄ 7H₂O 0.15 g, CaCl₂ 2H₂O 0.013 g, and glucose 1 g, per L dry weight). Overnight cultures (30° C.) of selected strains were spun down, media decanted off, and resuspended in equal amount of distilled water. Ten cucumber seeds were planted for each treatment at a depth of 1 cm in loam top soil (Columbia, MO) that was sieved to remove large debris. Seeds were inoculated at planting with 0.5 μl of resuspended bacteria in water mixed into 10 ml of H₂O. Ten ml of H₂O was sufficient to deliver the bacteria into the 3 in³ (7.62 cm³) of soil as well as saturate the soil for proper germination of seeds. Plants were grown at temperatures between 65-75° F. (18-24° C.) with 11 hours of light/day, and 5 ml of watering every 3 days. Cucumbers were allowed to grow for 2 weeks to analyze emergence and initial outgrowth of plants under described conditions. Identified strains indicated by their proper bacterial identifications and final height data are listed in Table 19.

TABLE 19 Cucumbers Avg. Height Bacterial Inoculant (cm) Comparison SEM Uninoculated 11.23 — .067 B. aryabhattai CAP53 11.5 102.00% .023 B. aryabhattai CAP56 11.35 101.20% .035 B. nealsonii BOBA57 11.33 101.10% .014

Example 28. Testing of Plant-Growth Promoting Bacterial Strains on Yellow Squash

The selected strains were grown in minimal media (KH₂PO₄ 3 g, Na₂HPO₄ 6 g, NH₄Cl 1 g, NaCl 0.50 g, MgSO₄ 7H₂O 0.15 g, CaCl₂ 2H₂O 0.013 g, and glucose 1 g, per L dry weight). Overnight cultures (30° C.) of selected strains were spun down, media decanted off, and resuspended in an equal amount of distilled water. Ten yellow squash seeds were planted for each treatment at a depth of 1 cm in loam top soil (Columbia, MO) that was sieved to remove large debris. Seeds were inoculated at planting with 0.5 μl of resuspended bacteria in water mixed into 10 ml of H₂O. Ten ml of H₂O was sufficient to deliver the bacteria into the 3 in³ (7.62 cm³) of soil as well as saturate the soil for proper germination of seeds. Plants were grown at temperatures between 65-75° F. (18-24° C.) with 11 hours of light/day, and 5 ml of watering every 3 days. Squash was allowed to grow for 2 weeks to analyze emergence and initial outgrowth of plants under described conditions. Identified strains indicated by their proper bacterial identifications, final height data, and final leaf diameter (by span of the two leaves) data are listed in Table 20.

TABLE 20 Yellow Avg. Squash Leaf Height Com- Diameter Com- Bacterial Inoculant (cm) parison SEM (cm) parison Uninoculated 10.16 — .028 5.08 — B. aryabhattai CAP53 11.75 115.60% .055 7.25 142.60% B. flexus BT054 11.88 116.90% .017 6.36 125.20% Bacillus mycoides 11.92 117.20% .051 6.33 124.60% BT155 B. aryabhattai CAP56 11.95 117.60% .027 6.33 124.60% B. nealsonii BOBA57 11.89 117.00% .118 6.42 126.40% E. cloacae CAP12 11.42 112.30% .039 6.83 134.40%

Example 29. Testing of Plant-Growth Promoting Bacterial Strains on Ryegrass

The selected strains were grown in minimal media (KH₂PO₄ 3 g, Na₂HPO₄ 6 g, NH₄Cl 1 g, NaCl 0.50 g, MgSO₄ 7H₂O 0.15 g, CaCl₂ 2H₂O 0.013 g, and glucose 1 g, per L dry weight). Overnight cultures (30° C.) of selected strains were spun down, media decanted off, and resuspended in an equal amount of distilled water. Thirty ryegrass seeds were planted for each treatment at a depth of 0.3 cm in loam top soil (Columbia, MO) that was sieved to remove large debris. Seeds were inoculated at planting with 0.5 μl of resuspended bacteria in water mixed into 10 ml of H₂O. Ten ml of H₂O was sufficient to deliver the bacteria into the 3 in³ (7.62 cm³) of soil as well as saturate the soil for proper germination of seeds. Plants were grown at temperatures between 65-75° F. (18-24° C.) with 11 hours of light/day, and 5 ml of watering every 3 days. Ryegrass was allowed to grow for 1.5 weeks to analyze emergence and initial outgrowth of plants under described conditions. Identified strains indicated by their proper bacterial identifications and height data are listed in Table 21.

TABLE 21 Ryegrass Avg. Height Bacterial Inoculant (cm) Comparison SEM Uninoculated 1.61 — .023 B. aryabhattai CAP53 2.01 124.70% .012 B. flexus BT054 2.21 137.30% .034 Bacillus mycoides BT155 2.29 142.20% .049 B. aryabhattai CAP56 2.19 136.00% .009 B. nealsonii BOBA57 2.29 142.40% .045 E. cloacae CAP12 1.98 122.50% .015

Example 30. Testing of Plant-Growth Promoting Bacterial Strains on Corn

The selected strains were grown in minimal media (KH₂PO₄ 3 g, Na₂HPO₄ 6 g, NH₄Cl 1 g, NaCl 0.50 g, MgSO₄ 7H₂O 0.15 g, CaCl₂ 2H₂O 0.013 g, and glucose 1 g, per L dry weight). Overnight cultures (30° C.) of selected strains were spun down, media decanted off, and resuspended in an equal amount of distilled water. Ten corn seeds were planted for each treatment at a depth of 2.5 cm in loam top soil (Columbia, MO) that was sieved to remove large debris. Seeds were inoculated at planting with 0.5 μl of resuspended bacteria in water mixed into 10 ml of H₂O. Ten ml of H₂O was sufficient to deliver the bacteria into the 3 in³ (7.62 cm³) of soil as well as saturate the soil for proper germination of seeds. Plants were grown at temperatures between 65-75° F. (18-24° C.) with 11 hours of light/day, and 5 ml of watering every 3 days. Corn was allowed to grow for 2 weeks to analyze emergence and initial outgrowth of plants under described conditions. Identified strains indicated by their proper bacterial identifications and final height data are listed in Table 22.

TABLE 22 Corn Avg. Height Bacterial Inoculant (cm) Comparison SEM Uninoculated 8.9 — .039 B. aryabhattai CAP53 11.01 123.60% .081 B. flexus BT054 9.96 112.00% .095 Bacillus mycoides strain BT155 9.6 107.90% .041 B. aryabhattai CAP56 9.54 107.10% .088 B. nealsonii BOBA57 9.23 103.70% .077

Example 31. Testing of Plant-Growth Promoting Bacterial Strains on Soybeans

The selected strains were grown in minimal media (KH₂PO₄ 3 g, Na₂HPO₄ 6 g, NH₄Cl 1 g, NaCl 0.50 g, MgSO₄ 7H₂O 0.15 g, CaCl₂ 2H₂O 0.013 g, and glucose 1 g, per L dry weight, or for Bradyrhizobium or Rhizobium on yeast mannitol media). Overnight cultures (30° C.) of selected strains were spun down, media decanted off, and resuspended in equal amount of distilled water. Ten soybean seeds were planted for each treatment at a depth of 2.5 cm in loam top soil (Columbia, MO) that was sieved to remove large debris. Seeds were inoculated at planting with 0.5 μl of resuspended bacteria in water mixed into 10 ml of H₂O. When testing two bacterial strains, 0.5 μl of each resuspended bacteria was mixed into 10 ml of H₂O. Ten ml of H₂O was sufficient to deliver the bacteria into the 3 in³ (7.62 cm³) of soil as well as saturate the soil for proper germination of seeds. Plants were grown at temperatures between 65-75° F. (18-24° C.) with 11 hours of light/day, and 5 ml of watering every 3 days. Soybeans were allowed to grow for 2 weeks to analyze emergence and initial outgrowth of plants under described conditions. Identified strains indicated by their proper bacterial identifications and final height data are listed in Table 23. Co-inoculation of bacteria strains in the present invention with members of the Bradyrhizobium sp. or Rhizobium sp. lead to an increase in plant growth compared to either inoculant alone.

TABLE 23 Soybeans Avg. Height Bacterial Inoculant (cm) Comparison SEM Uninoculated 13.94 — .089 B. aryabhattai CAP53 16.32 117.1% .146 B. flexus BT054 17.85 128.0% .177 Bacillus mycoides strain BT155 18.93 135.8% .117 B. aryabhattai CAP56 17.23 123.6% .133 B. aryabhattai CAP53 16.32 117.1% .077 B. aryabhattai CAP53 and 16.72 119.9% .182 Bradyrhizobium sp. B. aryabhattai CAP53 and Rhizobium sp. 17.32 124.2% .086 Bradyrhizobium sp. 14.25 102.2% Rhizobium sp. 14.75 105.8%

Example 32. Bacillus cereus Family Members with Plant Growth Promoting Attributes

Bacillus mycoides strain BT 155, Bacillus mycoides strain EE118, Bacillus mycoides strain EE141, Bacillus mycoides strain BT46-3, Bacillus cereus family member strain EE349, Bacillus thuringiensis strain BT013A, and Bacillus megaterium strain EE281 were grown in Luria Bertani broth at 37° C. and overnight cultures were spun down, media decanted off, and resuspended in equal amount of distilled water. 20 corn seeds were planted for each treatment at a depth of 2.5 cm in loam top soil (Columbia, MO) that was sieved to remove large debris. Seeds were inoculated at planting with 0.5 μl of resuspended bacteria in water mixed into 50 ml of H₂O. Fifty ml of H₂O was sufficient to deliver the bacteria into the 29 in³ (442.5 cm³) of soil as well as saturate the soil for proper germination of seeds. Plants were grown at temperatures between 65-72° F. with 13 hours of light/day, and 5 ml of watering every 3 days. Seedlings were allowed to grow for 2 weeks to analyze emergence and initial outgrowth of plants under described conditions. Identified strains indicated by their proper bacterial identifications and final height data are listed in Table 24.

TABLE 24 Avg. Height, cm, Bacterial Inoculant Corn Percentage SEM, H2O Control 11.41 100%   .123 B. mycoides EE118 12.43 108.9% .207 B. mycoides EE141 12.84 112.5% .231 B. mycoides BT46-3 11.81 103.5% .089 Bacillus thuringiensis 12.05 105.6% .148 BT013A Bacillus cereus family 13.12 114.9% .159 member EE128 Bacillus mycoides BT155 12.85 112.6% .163 Bacillus megaterium EE281 11.99 105.1% .098

All plant growth promoting bacteria tested had a beneficial effect on corn height at two weeks under the described conditions. The Bacillus cereus family member EE128 strain had the greatest effect in this trial, giving a greater than at 14% boost in corn height.

Example 33. Enhanced Selection of Bacillus cereus Family Members to Screen for Plant Growth-Promoting and Other Beneficial Activities as BEMD Expression Host

The BEMD system can be used to display a wide range of proteins, peptides, and enzymes using any of the targeting sequences described herein to provide beneficial agricultural effects. Additional beneficial effects can be obtained by selecting an expression host (a Bacillus cereus family member) having inherent beneficial attributes. Many strains of members of the Bacillus cereus family have plant-growth promoting benefits. Additionally, many Bacillus cereus family member strains provide have protective effects, through direct fungicidal, insecticidal, nematocidal, or other protective activities. By using such strains these as the expression host for the BEMD system, the end spore product would have a combination of positive benefits in agriculture.

Table 25 provides results for an experiments wherein a fusion protein was expressed in various Bacillus cereus family member strains. All strains are expressed a fusion protein comprising amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and the phosphatase PhoA4 from Bacillus subtilis, a beneficial enzyme for enhanced phosphate uptake in corn. The gene was synthesized, cloned into the pMK4 vector, and introduced into each of the Bacillus spp. indicated in Table 25 below. Strains were taken into sporulation by incubation at 30° C. on nutrient agar plates containing chloramphenicol 10 μg/ml for three days. Spores were collected, washed, and applied to corn at planting at a rate of 1×10⁵ CFU/ml in 50 ml of water per 7.62 cm diameter pot with 5 mg polyphosphate per pot. Corn was grown in silt loam soil for two weeks. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 13 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 15.5-25.5° C. Plants were watered to saturation every three days over a two week trial. At the end of two weeks, the height of each plant was measured and measurements were normalized to control Bacillus thuringiensis spores. Expression of the SEQ ID NO: 1—Phosphatase fusion protein led to an increase in corn height at 2 weeks regardless of the expression host strain selected. As shown in Table 25, use of a plant-growth promoting Bacillus cereus family member further increased corn height

TABLE 25 Height at 2 weeks, Bacillus Species Strain Fusion Protein Normalized B. thuringiensis Strain BT013A None 100%   B. thuringiensis Strain BT013A SEQ ID NO: 1-Phosphatase 117.4% B. mycoides Strain EE141  None 107.3% B. mycoides Strain EE141  SEQ ID NO: 1-Phosphatase 123.3% B. cereus family Strain EE128  None 124.1% member B. cereus family Strain EE128  SEQ ID NO: 1-Phosphatase 131.7% member B. mycoides Strain BT155  None 104.8% B. mycoides Strain BT155  SEQ ID NO: 1-Phosphatase 121.9%

Example 34. Use of Various Targeting Sequences to Express β-Galactosidase on the Surface of Bacillus thuringiensis

A wide variety of targeting sequences that that have a high degree homology with amino acids 20-35 of BclA (amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1) can be used to display enzymes, proteins, and peptides on the surface of Bacillus cereus family members. Several targeting sequences were compared by making fusion proteins containing the targeting sequences linked to Bacillus subtilis lipase. Fusion constructs were synthesized using the promoters native to the targeting sequence, cloned into the replicating plasmid pMK4, and introduced into Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A. Strains were taken into sporulation by incubation at 30° C. on nutrient agar plates containing chloramphenicol 10 μg/ml for 3 days. Spores were collected, washed, and resuspended in PBS at a rate of 1×10⁸/ml. 1×10⁵ spores for each fusion construct spores were suspended in 400 μl dH₂O. The reactions were warmed with the reaction components to the desired reaction temperature (40° C.). 200 μl working buffer was added (9:1 Solution A:Solution B). Solution A was 50 mM Tris pH 10 and 13.6 mM deoxycholic acid and Solution B was 3 mg/ml p-nitrophenyl palmitate in isopropanol. The reaction was incubated at 40° C. for 10 minutes and placed on ice, centrifuged to remove spores, and absorbance at 420 nm was recorded. The results are shown in Table 26 below. Activity was normalized to a control fusion protein comprising amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1 fused to Bacillus subtilis lipase.

TABLE 26 Relative Strain Targeting sequence Enzyme activity B. thuringiensis Amino acids 1-35 of Lipase 100%   BT013A SEQ ID NO: 1 B. thuringiensis Amino acids 1-27 of Lipase  92.5% BT013A SEQ ID NO: 3 B. thuringiensis Amino acids 1-28 of Lipase  13.5% BT013A SEQ ID NO: 7 B. thuringiensis Amino acid 1-24 of Lipase  24.8% BT013A SEQ ID NO: 9 B. thuringiensis Amino acid 1-33 of Lipase  98.5% BT013A SEQ ID NO: 13 B. thuringiensis Amino acid 1-33 of Lipase 107.8% BT013A SEQ ID NO: 21 B. thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 60 Lipase 137.1% BT013A B. thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 62 Lipase 146.3% BT013A B. thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 64 Lipase 115.7% BT013A B. thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 68 Lipase  81.5% BT013A

Several targeting sequences linked to lipase result in higher expression levels and activity of enzyme on the surface of spores. In particular, SEQ ID NOs. 60, 62, and 64, each containing a shorter targeting sequence, resulted in enhanced fusion expression on the surface of the BEMD spores. All the fusion proteins containing targeting sequences tested resulted in surface display of lipase.

Example 35. Use of Various Exosporium Sequences to Express Lipase on the Surface of Bacillus thuringiensis and Demonstration of Fusion Protein Localization to the Exosporium Surface

A wide variety of exosporium proteins can be used to display enzymes, proteins, and peptides on the surface of Bacillus cereus family members. Several different exosporium proteins were compared by making fusion proteins containing the exosporium proteins linked to Bacillus subtilis lipase as described in Example 34. Fusion constructs were synthesized using the promoter native to the exosporium protein indicated in Table 27 below, cloned into the replicating plasmid pMK4, and introduced into Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A. Spores displaying the various exosporium protein-Bacillus subtilis 168 lipase fusions were made by growing the transformed bacteria in brain heart infusion broth with selective pressure from 10 g/ml chloramphenicol, plating onto nutrient agar plates, and incubating at 30° C. for 3 days. After 3 days, the spores were washed off the plates, purified by centrifugation, and resuspended in PBS at 1×10⁸ CFU/ml.

1×10⁵ spores for each fusion construct were resuspended in 400 μl dH₂O. The reactions were warmed with the reaction components to the desired reaction temperature (40° C.). 200 μl of working buffer was added (9:1 Solution A:Solution B). Solution A was 50 mM Tris pH 10 and 13.6 mM deoxycholic acid and Solution B was 3 mg/ml p-nitrophenyl palmitate in isopropanol. The reaction was incubated at 40° C. for 10 minutes and placed on ice, centrifuged to remove spores and absorbance at 420 nm was recorded. Results are shown in Table 27 below. Activity was normalized to SEQ ID NO: 72 linked to lipase.

TABLE 27 Exosporium Relative Strain protein Enzyme activity B. thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 72 Lipase 100%   BT013A B. thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 73 Lipase 134.5%  BT013A B. thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 76 Lipase 17.8% BT013A B. thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 80 Lipase 19.8% BT013A B. thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 81 Lipase  8.2% BT013A

Use of the exosporium proteins of SEQ ID NOs. 72 and 73 resulted in the highest enzyme activity on the spore. All the fusion proteins containing exosporium proteins resulted in surface display of active Bacillus subtilis 168 lipase, albeit at different levels.

Additional exosporium proteins were demonstrated to result in targeting of fusion proteins to the exosporium using the fluorescent reporter mCherry. Fusion constructs were created that contained the exosporium proteins of SEQ ID NOs. 74, 83, and 73 linked to the mCherry reporter. Spores were grown for 1.5 days, collected, and resuspended as described above. 7 μl of fluorescent spores were put under a Nikon E1000 microscope and imaged during late sporulation. Circular localization in a ring is indicative of outer spore layer localization, and the appearance matches that of an exosporium protein. Fluorescent microscopy results are shown in FIG. 2 . FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are fluorescent microscopy images of spores expressing fusion proteins comprising the exosporium proteins of SEQ ID NOs. 74, 83, and 73, respectively, and the mCherry reporter. All three fusions demonstrated high levels of fluorescence and exosporium localization, demonstrating their potential utility for the expression of foreign proteins on the surface of the exosporium.

Example 36. Use of Various Targeting Sequences and Exosporium Proteins to Express Phosphatase in Bacillus subtilis Spores and Effects of the Phosphatase-Expressing Spores in Soybeans

BEMD spores expressing Bacillus subtilis EE148 Phosphatase A4 (PhoA4) were created by gene synthesis of the genes coding for various targeting sequences and exosporium proteins under the control of their native promoters linked to PhoA4. The synthesized genes were cloned into pMK4 and introduced into Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A. Spores displaying the various exosporium protein-Bacillus subtilis EE148 PhoA4 fusions were made by growing the transformed bacteria in brain heart infusion broth with selective pressure from 10 μg/ml chloramphenicol, plating onto nutrient agar plates, and incubating at 30° C. for three days. After three days, the spores were washed off the plates, purified by centrifugation, and resuspended in PBS at 1×10⁸ CFU/ml.

Soybeans were planted 2.54 cm deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. BEMD spores expressing PhoA4 were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/ml in 50 ml of water and applied to each plant at planting. A water-only control was also included. Polyphosphate was added to pots in liquid at a rate of 0.5 mg/pot. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 13 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 15.5-25.5° C. Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the two week trial. At the end of two weeks, the height of each plant was measured, and measurements were normalized to control water-only plants.

Results are shown in Table 28. Soy grown in the presence of BEMD spores expressing fusion proteins containing PhoA4 linked to various targeting sequences and exosporium proteins with different fusion partners with PhoA4 all exhibited enhanced growth, but the extent of the effect varied depending on the targeting sequence or exosporium protein used.

TABLE 28 Targeting sequence or Height at exosporium protein 2 weeks, Bacillus species linked to PhoA4 Normalized H2O (No bacteria) N/A 100%   Bacillus thuringiensis Amino acids 1-35 of 100%   Strain BT013A SEQ ID NO: 1 Bacillus thuringiensis Amino acids 1-28 of 117.4% Strain BT013A SEQ ID NO: 3 Bacillus thuringiensis Amino acids 1-33 of 107.3% Strain BT013A SEQ ID NO: 21 Bacillus thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 60 123.3% Strain BT013A Bacillus thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 62 124.1% Strain BT013A Bacillus thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 72 131.7% Strain BT013A Bacillus thuringiensis SEQ ID NO: 73 104.8% Strain BT013A

Example 37. Co-Application of BEMD Spores and Seed Treatments, Liquid Fertilizers, and Other Additives

BEMD spores expressing fusion proteins were tested for compatibility with various seed treatments. The BEMD spores expressed fusion proteins comprising the targeting sequence of amino acids 1-35 SEQ ID NO: 1 linked to a phosphatase (PhoA4) from Bacillus subtilis EE148 or the POLARIS peptide. The synthesized genes were cloned into pMK4 and introduced into Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A. Spores displaying the various exosporium protein-Bacillus subtilis EE148 PhoA4 or POLARIS fusions were made by growing the transformed bacteria in brain heart infusion broth with selective pressure from 10 μg/ml chloramphenicol, plating onto nutrient agar plates, and incubating at 30° C. for three days. After three days, the spores were washed off the plates, purified by centrifugation, and resuspended in PBS at 1×10⁸ CFU/ml.

Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 13 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 15.5-25.5° C. Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the two week trial. At the end of two weeks, the height of each plant was measured, and measurements were normalized to control water only plants. Results are shown in Table 29 below. Drench=applied to soil at 50 ml per pot. Polymer=ACCELERON seed coating polymer only. BEMD spores were added at 1×10⁴ cells/50 ml for drench applications. BEMD spores were added at 1.3×10⁴/cells/seed for seed coating applications. 10-34-0 and 6-24-6 are standard commercial starter fertilizer compositions. 10-34-0 is liquid ammonium phosphate. 6-24-6 is low salt liquid phosphate fertilizer with an ortho/poly formulation. Colorant=Becker Underwood red seed coating coloring agent. MACHO, APRON, and CRUISER are commercial fungicides used on seeds. MACHO contains the active ingredient imidacloprid, APRON contains the active ingredient mefenoxam, and CRUISER contains a mixture of the active ingredients thiamethoxam, mefenoxam, and fludioxonil. The spores were found to be compatible with many seed applications and retained their ability to stimulate plant growth in corn.

TABLE 29 Corn height at 2 BEMD treatment Chemical weeks, normalized None None (Water Drench) 100%   None Polymer Only 101.3% BEMD PhoA4 N/A (Drench) 111.3% BEMD POLARIS N/A (Drench) 106.7% BEMD PhoA4 Polymer 109.3% BEMD POLARIS Polymer 107.3% BEMD PhoA4 Polymer + Colorant 102.3% BEMD PhoA4 Polymer + MACHO 107.9% BEMD PhoA4 Polymer + APRON 112.3% BEMD PhoA4 Polymer + CRUISER 116.8% BEMD PhoA4 Polymer + Colorant + 113.7% MACHO + APRON + CRUISER None 10-34-0 Starter 108.5% (Drench) BEMD PhoA4 10-34-0 Starter 114.7% Fertilizer (Drench) None 6-24-6 Starter 102.6% Fertilizer (Drench) BEMD PhoA4 6-24-6 Starter 112.9% Fertilizer (Drench)

BEMD spores were found to be compatible with all seed coating amendments tested. There was a slight decrease in activity when BEMD PhA4 spores were combined with colorant and polymer alone, but the spores regained full activity with colorant in combination with other fungicides. BEMD spores also worked well with liquid fertilizers. Starter fertilizers contributed to plant growth most likely through direct nutrient supplementation. BEMD spores worked with both starter fertilizers, suggesting that phosphatase activity can still lead to increased plant growth in the presence of excess nutrients. Combinations of BEMD spores with fungicides exhibited greater increases in plant growth than BEMD spores alone, likely due to protection given to young corn plants during early growth.

Example 38. The Use of the BEMD Spores as a Foliar Addition for Reducing Stress Inhibition of Growth on Corn

The BEMD spore display system can be used to deliver enzymes that can alleviate some stress from growing plants in the field or greenhouse. To accomplish this, enzymes were selected that selectively act upon reactive oxygen species in soil. Reactive oxygen species are a key marker of stress in plants.

BEMD spores expressing fusion proteins comprising the targeting sequence of amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1 linked to chitosinase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, or β1,3 glucanase from Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A were generated. The synthesized genes were cloned into pMK4 and introduced into Bacillus thuringiensis BT013A. Spores displaying the various protein fusions were made by growing the transformed bacteria in brain heart infusion broth with selective pressure from 10 μg/ml chloramphenicol, plating onto nutrient agar plates, and incubating at 30° C. for three days. After three days, the spores were washed off the plates, purified by centrifugation, and resuspended in PBS at 1×10⁸ CFU/ml.

Three week old corn plants at the V5 stage were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 13 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 15.5-25.5° C. Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the course of the trial. As the plants reach V5, BEMD spores or positive control chemicals were sprayed on the leaves at either 1×10⁵ BEMD spores/ml or at the recommended rates for the chemicals. A total of 1 ml of spray was applied to each plant individually. Plant heights were taken just prior to the application of the foliar sprays. The corn plants were then stressed by warming to 32.2° C. and decreasing watering to once per week. Plants were kept under stressed conditions for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, plant heights were again measured, and visual appearance recorded. Under these stressed conditions, plant growth was minimal in control treatments. The ability to continue to grow under stressed conditions was measured by an increase in plant height over the two week span as compared to the water-only control. Results are shown in Table 30 below.

TABLE 30 Change in plant Height over Treatment Rate 2 week stress None None 0%   Bacillus thuringiensis 1 ml/plant −1.6%   BT013A spores BEMD Chitosinase 1 ml/plant 0.3% BEMD Chitosinase 1 ml/plant and 5 mM 4.7% and Chitosan BEMD Superoxide 1 ml/plant 8.3% Dismutase BEMD B1,3 1 ml/plant 4.9% Glucanase Salicylic Acid 1 ml/plant 5.8% Benzothiadiazole 1 ml/plant 7.3% (BTH) BEMD Catalase 1 ml/plant −0.5%  

Several destressing enzymes were applied to corn using the BEMD system, as shown in in Table 30 above. Control spores had no significant effect (decrease in plant height of −1.6%. The BEMD chitosinase enzyme had a positive effect when combined with its substrate, chitosan. The two best performing enzymes were BEMD β-1,3-glucanase and BEMD superoxide dismutase. BEMD β-1,3-glucanase has a primarily antifungal activity, but can also have direct effects on plants. Salicylic acid and BTH were positive controls for the foliar assay, and positive responses were seen for both. This foliar delivery method can be used for delivering destressing enzymes to the plants at various times of the season.

Example 39. Expression Levels of Fusion Proteins Using Various Sigma-K Containing Promoters

As shown in Example 23 above, replacing native promoter of a targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment can greatly affect the level of fusion protein expressed on the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family spore. For example, replacing the native BclA promoter with the BclB promoter greatly reduces the level of fusion protein on the surface of Bacillus cereus family member spores. Alternatively, replacement of native BclB promoter with the BclA promoter increases fusion protein levels on the exosporium dramatically.

Relative promoter expression levels for various exosporium proteins under the control of their native sporulation promoters were obtained from microarray data from Bergman et al., 2008. The relative expression levels were determined during late sporulation timing (300 minutes after the start of the experiment), when sigma K promoters are most active. Sigma K promoters are key promoters for expression of exosporium localized genes and associated proteins. Relative expression is the increase in a gene's expression level when compared to the average of all other genes of the chromosome at all given times. Table 31 below shows the relative expression levels of a variety of sigma K driven genes in Bacillus cereus family members.

TABLE 31 Protein Relative Expression (Promoter SEQ ID NO.) (Fold increase in mRNA) CotY (SEQ ID NO: 97) 79.21 Rhamnose Promoters 75.69 (SEQ ID NO: 96) BclC (SEQ ID NO: 98) 14.44 Sigma K (SEQ ID NO: 99) 64 BclA adjacent US Glycosyl 72.25 transferase promoter 1 (SEQ ID NO: 101) BclA adjacent DS Glycosyl 73.96 transferase promoter 2 (SEQ ID NO: 102) BclA (SEQ ID NO: 85) 77.44 ExsY (SEQ ID NO: 91) 32.49 YjcA (SEQ ID NO: 93) 64 YjcB (SEQ ID NO: 94) 70.56 BxpB/ExsFA (SEQ ID NO: 95) 30.25 InhA (SEQ ID NO: 100) 34.25

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above fusion proteins, Bacillus cereus family members, formulations, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A recombinant Bacillus cereus family member that expresses a fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: a targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member selected from the group consisting of: (a) an amino acid sequence having at least about 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 54%; (b) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (c) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (d) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 1; (e) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 60; (f) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 22-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (g) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 22-33 of SEQ ID NO: 1; and (h) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 20-31 of SEQ ID NO: 1; and a catalase.
 2. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the targeting sequence comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%.
 3. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the targeting sequence comprises an amino sequence having at least about 62% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%.
 4. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the targeting sequence comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 90%.
 5. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the targeting sequence consists of: (a) an amino acid sequence consisting of 16 amino acids and having at least about 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 54%; (b) amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (c) amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (d) SEQ ID NO: 1; or (e) SEQ ID NO:
 60. 6. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the targeting sequence comprises SEQ ID NO:
 60. 7. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment further comprises a methionine residue at the amino acid position immediately preceding the first amino acid of the targeting sequence, exosporium protein, or exosporium protein fragment.
 8. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein targeting sequence, the exosporium protein, or the exosporium protein fragment comprises the amino acid sequence GXT at its carboxy terminus, wherein X is any amino acid.
 9. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the fusion protein further comprises an amino acid linker between the targeting sequence, the exosporium protein, or the exosporium protein fragment and the catalase.
 10. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 9, wherein the linker comprises a polyalanine linker, a polyglycine linker, or a linker comprising a mixture of both alanine and glycine residues.
 11. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member comprises Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus pseudomycoides, Bacillus samanii, Bacillus gaemokensis, Bacillus weihenstephensis, or a combination thereof.
 12. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member comprises a plant-growth promoting strain of bacteria.
 13. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member is inactivated.
 14. A formulation comprising a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1 and an agriculturally acceptable carrier.
 15. The formulation of claim 14, wherein the formulation further comprises at least one agrochemical.
 16. The formulation of claim 15, wherein the agrochemical comprises a fertilizer, a micronutrient fertilizer material, an insecticide, a herbicide, a fungicide, a molluscicide, an algicide, a plant growth amendment, a bacterial inoculant, a fungal inoculant, or a combination thereof.
 17. The formulation of claim 16, wherein the agrochemical comprises the fertilizer.
 18. The formulation of claim 17, wherein the fertilizer comprises ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, ammonium chloride, ammonium bisulfate, ammonium polysulfide, ammonium thiosulfate, aqueous ammonia, anhydrous ammonia, ammonium polyphosphate, aluminum sulfate, calcium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, calcium sulfate, calcined magnesite, calcitic limestone, calcium oxide, calcium nitrate, dolomitic limestone, hydrated lime, calcium carbonate, diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium sulfate, potassium nitrate, potassium chloride, potassium magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate, sodium nitrate, magnesian limestone, magnesia, urea, urea-formaldehyde, urea ammonium nitrate, sulfur-coated urea, polymer-coated urea, isobutylidene diurea, K₂SO₄-2MgSO₄, kainite, sylvinite, kieserite, Epsom salts, elemental sulfur, marl, ground oyster shells, fish meal, oil cakes, fish manure, blood meal, rock phosphate, superphosphate, slag, bone meal, wood ash, manure, bat guano, peat moss, compost, green sand, cottonseed meal, feather meal, crab meal, fish emulsion, humic acid, or a combination thereof.
 19. A plant seed treated with a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1 or a formulation comprising a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1 and an agriculturally acceptable carrier.
 20. The plant seed of claim 19, wherein the plant seed is coated with the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member or the formulation.
 21. A method of enhancing stress resistance in a plant, the method comprising: introducing into a plant growth medium a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1 or a formulation comprising a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1 and an agriculturally acceptable carrier; or applying to a plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant or a plant seed a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1 or a formulation comprising a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1 and an agriculturally acceptable carrier. 